A keen understanding of the intricacies of the procedural aspect of personal law and internal hierarchies/fissures within the community in question need to guide our vision of judicial reforms. Considering the bias that exists in terms of class, caste, gender and religion in the implementation of law, one wonders what would be the real gains of bringing personal law more and more within the purview of the policing system. This article looks at cases brought by Muslim women to the Kanpur darul qaza seeking maintenance and/or divorce and finds that these women do not lack agency. They also approach different legal forums to resolve their personal and domestic issues.
