{
  "id": 6216923,
  "title": "SC upholds Bait-ul-Mal aid for Hindu girls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/sc-upholds-bait-ul-mal-aid-for-hindu-girls",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T02:37:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2028256/sc-upholds-bait-ul-mal-aid-for-hindu-girls"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld a Sindh High Court order on Monday, directing the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) to provide financial assistance to two Hindu minor girls. The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and including Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, rejected a plea from the PBM challenging the December 1, 2022, order. The order required the PBM to register the girls as beneficiaries and pay them Rs10,000 per month in maintenance, with a 10% annual increase, until they reach marriageable age. Although the Supreme Court acknowledged the high court's concern for the welfare of the minors, it outlined a framework for future cases. The court stated that cases should be directed to the PBM for evaluation if the circumstances before a court suggest the need for the institution's aid. This approach allows the court to refer a deserving case to the PBM for assistance without undermining the institution's administrative structure. The controversy arose when PBM contested the December 1, 2022, order, which held that Ram Raj, the paternal grandfather of the two minor Hindu children, was not personally responsible for their maintenance under family law. The high court, in turn, directed the PBM to register the minors as regular beneficiaries and pay them monthly maintenance. The minors' mother, Shrimati Reeta, had married Ravi Kumar in 2012, and they had two daughters, Jasika and Sanika. After Ravi Kumar's suicide in 2017, Shrimati Reeta sought maintenance for her daughters through a family court in Jacobabad. The court ordered Ram Raj to pay Rs3,000 per month to each child, with a 10% annual increase. Ram Raj appealed the decision, invoking the Sindh High Court's jurisdiction. The CJP emphasized that courts often face situations where resolving the legal question doesn't address the underlying issue for the parties. In such cases, a court may look beyond the immediate legal question and seek to alleviate the parties' predicament. The PBM's existence, according to the court, demonstrates why such recourse might be necessary, particularly for minority groups facing significant social and economic hardships.",
  "summary": "• Rejects plea against SHC order requiring Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal to pay Rs10,000 per month to each girl, with 10pc annual increase until marriage • CJP says courts may look beyond legal questions to address underlying predicament ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea filed by the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) challenging the Sindh High Court’s Dec 1, 2022, order directing the welfare…",
  "key_points": [
    "Supreme Court upholds Sindh High Court order for Hindu girls' aid",
    "PBM directed to register girls as beneficiaries, pay Rs10,000/month",
    "Court outlines framework for future cases involving minority welfare"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Supreme Court's ruling cements a precedent for courts to refer deserving cases to the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal for assistance, ensuring a safety net for vulnerable minority groups.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Express Tribune - Pakistan",
        "title": "SC upholds Bait-ul-Mal support for Hindu girls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/sc-upholds-bait-ul-mal-support-for-hindu-girls",
        "published": "2026-09-07T17:51:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Supreme Court upholds Bait-ul-Mal aid for 2 Hindu girls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/supreme-court-upholds-bait-ul-mal-aid-for-2-hindu-girls",
        "published": "2026-09-08T03:00:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}