An Indian Muslim forum Saturday said it would contest a court ruling which divided a contested religious site between Hindus and Muslims in a verdict seen as favouring the Hindu litigants. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a private body set up in 1973, "unanimously" decided to challenge the September 30 ruling of the Lucknow High Court in India's Supreme Court, forum spokesman M.A. Rahim Qureshi said.
"We feel the ruling suffered from a number of infirmities and the board considers it the right and obligation of Indian Muslims to challenge the judgement," he said in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh state. "This issue can only be sorted out when the claim of Muslims is upheld. We can not surrender our claim," he added.