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Kerala/Kasaragod: On March 8, International Women’s Day, Kerala’s Kasaragod district witnessed a unique ‘wedding’, where a couple married for almost 29 years remarried for the sake of their three daughters. The wedding, which took place at the Hosdurg sub-registrar’s office, was attended by his three daughters, his family members and friends. C Shukkur, a renowned lawyer from Kasaragod, married Dr Sheena in October 1994 and their marriage was conducted by Panakkad Syed Haider Ali Shihab Thangal.
However, the marriage took place under Sharia law and according to Muslim personal law, daughters get only two-thirds of their father’s property, with the rest going to their brothers. To ensure that their earnings should only be passed on to their children, Shukkur and Sheena remarried under the Special Marriage Act, which states that the inheritance of the property of anyone married under it is governed by the Indian Succession Act. Sheena is the former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
The couple decided to remarry three daughters to remove the legal hurdle of inheritance as they have no sons. Advocate Shukkur had given 30 days’ notice on February 3, which is mandatory for marriages under the Special Marriage Act. This marriage could have far-reaching consequences for their community, far beyond their personal lives. The Muslim couple’s remarriage has sparked a discussion about the “gender inequality that prevents Muslim girls from inheriting their parents’ property”.
