The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that although the marriage between a Muslim man and Hindu woman is an irregular marriage, described as "fasid" in Mohamadan law, the children born out this wedlock are legitimate and have claim over the property of the father.
"The marriage of a Muslim man with an idolater or fireworshipper is neither a valid (sahih) nor a void (batil) marriage, but is merely an irregular (fasid) marriage. Any child born out of such wedlock (fasid marriage) is entitled to claim a share in his father's property," observed the bench of Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar in their judgment.
The top court said this upholding the plea by one Mohammed Salim. He was born to Mohammed Ilias and Valliamma, and court described him as their legitimate child.
Having held that a child born out of Hindu mother and Muslim father is legitimate and has claim over the property of father, the court said: "The position that a marriage between a Hindu woman and Muslim man is merely irregular and the issue from such wedlock is legitimate has also been affirmed by various high courts."
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