CHENNAI: The Verdict Of a five-member Bench of the Supreme Court to end the practice of instantaneous divorce through triple talaq was welcomed by youth of Chennai. “This verdict is a sigh of relief,” sais Prerna Chatterjee, a journalism student from the city, who added, “This practice deserves to join other banned inhumane practices like Sati.”
“The verdict is long overdue. There is no mention of such a rash and impulsive practice in the Koran,” said Afifa Ameen, a student in the city. “Patriarchy using religion as a shield to perpetuate wrong is disgusting,” she added. Rajathi Salma, an author and social worker welcomed the SC injunction in light of recent events where Muslim women had been handed divorce through text messages and through social media applications.
“It is good that the SC banned immediate triple talaq. The Koran specifies there must be three menstrual periods between each uttering of the term to ensure the woman isn’t pregnant. There is definitely a hidden agenda in this ban but it couldn’t be avoided,” she said.
The suspicions of a Central Government agenda behind the reform are widespread, however most women who spoke to the Express deemed the move necessary, regardless of ulterior motives, for the greater good.
Men also welcomed the SC move. The Prince of Arcot, Nawab Ghulam Muhammad Abdul Ali said triple talaq being used indiscriminately was a sin. “I salute the Supreme Court for this landmark verdict,” he said.
The Nawab called upon his Muslim brethren to rise above their sectarian ideologies and wholeheartedly hail the Supreme Court’s verdict on triple talaq.
“Equality for all and fundamental rights should come before religion. It is a good step towards gender equality,” said Jayaram Venkatesan, a social activist.
Steven Joel Mithra, front man of an upcoming city band claimed he was shocked by the incidents of women being divorced through triple talaq via texts and emails.
“Nobody should go through something like that. The country is getting better,” he said.
While there is appreciation for the Supreme Court as a body for making triple talaq illegal, the fact that two members of the Bench wanted to pass the buck to the Government is worrying a section of the population. Especially when one of the judges who doesn’t deem the practice ‘unconstitutional’ is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
“The verdict should have been 5-0 against this inhumane practice. The verdict passing by just one vote is not a good sign,” said a student who refused to be named.