The National Commission for Women (NCW) has submitted a report on the rights of Muslim women in India to key central Ministries. The report recommends a comprehensive legislation to codify Muslim personal law related to marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody, and inheritance, strengthening provisions for maintenance during and after marriage, and mandatory registration of marriages.

The NCW submitted the ‘Rights of Muslim Women in India’ report following a national-level consultation last year aimed at strengthening legal and social protections.

Apart from the suggestions mentioned above, the report also recommended the prohibition of child marriage and regulation of divorce practices, ensuring fairness, due process, and equal access to remedies for women, ensuring financial security, and safeguarding women’s rights over mehr and matrimonial assets, adoption of child-centric custody frameworks, and strengthening women’s rights in property and inheritance through simplified enforcement mechanisms.

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It also sought the establishment of gender-sensitive dispute resolution mechanisms with adequate representation for women and accountability to civil courts, expansion of legal aid systems, helplines, and targeted awareness campaigns to enhance legal literacy among Muslim women, and immediate intervention to address harmful practices such as the Paaro (bride buying) system, alongside rehabilitation measures, identity recognition, and livelihood support for affected women.

The report, prepared after extensive deliberations, has been shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the NCW said in an official statement on Wednesday (May 27).

According to the Commission, the findings are based on inputs gathered during a round-table consultation held in New Delhi on August 1, 2025. The consultation brought together government officials, legal experts, academicians, women’s rights organisations, religious scholars, and members of civil society from across the country.

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The discussions focused on reviewing existing legal provisions, identifying implementation gaps, and proposing reforms to ensure greater protection and empowerment of Muslim women.

The commission said that while various constitutional safeguards and recent legal reforms exist, persistent challenges remain in effectively ensuring rights and access to justice.

It added that the report was intended to support policy formulation and improve the implementation of laws and schemes relating to women’s welfare and empowerment.