New Delhi, Dec. 3 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a Muslim woman, who has been divorced, is legally entitled to recover cash, gold and other articles given to her or her husband by her parents at the time of marriage, delivering a verdict aimed at strengthening the financial security and dignity of divorced Muslim women. Such items, the court underscored, must be treated as the woman's property and returned to her once the marriage ends.

A bench of justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh said that the provisions of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 must be interpreted in a manner that fulfils the constitutional promise of equality and autonomy, rather than being read narrowly through a purely civi...