Constitution bench to decide petitions on triple talaq: Supreme Court

Referring to the legal issues framed by the Centre, it said all of them relate to the constitutional issues and needed to be dealt by a larger bench.

A demonstration organised by a women's organisation against triple talaq. | File Photo

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that a five-judge Constitution Bench would be set up to hear the questions of legality in the practice of Triple Talaq, ‘nikah halala’ and polygamy and decide whether these practices violate the fundamental rights of Muslim women. The questions for consideration of the Constitution Bench would be decided on March 30.

While making it clear that it would refrain from venturing into the Uniform Civil Code issue (UCC), the court observed that Triple Talaq was a human rights issue. Asserting that it’s willing to sit on Saturdays and Sundays to decide on the issue as it was ‘very important’, the Supreme Court asked the parties concerned to file their written submissions, not running beyond 15 pages, by the next date of hearing, along with a common paper book of case laws to be relied upon by it during the hearing to avoid duplicity.

The government, which wants these practices barred on the grounds that they violate the right to gender equality, secularism and binding international covenants, has tabled four questions before the court.

One, whether the practices of Triple Talaq, ‘nikah halala’ and polygamy are protected under Article 25(1) of the Constitution, which gives all citizens ‘...the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion’. Two, whether the right to practice and propagate religion is subject to other equally important rights, like the right to equality and right to life.

Three, whether Muslim personal law falls under Article 13 of the Constitution which provides that any law is void if it is not in conformity of the Constitutional scheme. The fourth argument said these practices are incompatible with India’s obligations under international treaties and covenants to which the country is a signatory, as well as marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries.

The government’s stand has the support of Muslim women from various walks of life, as well as other secular lobbies. However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has argued that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to strike down any provisions of personal law in the country, while the Jamiat Ulema-i- Hind had told the court that these practices are well-rooted in Muslim Personal Law and stand on much higher pedestal compared to other customs.