SC says 'No' to triple talaq

New Delhi: The Supreme Court by a majority verdict on Tuesday set aside the practice of divorce through triple talaq among Muslims, saying the practice was void, illegal and unconstitutional. The apex court held that the triple talaq was against the basic tenets of Quran.

"In view of the different opinions recorded by a majority of 3:2, the practice of 'talaq-e-biddat' triple talaq is set aside," a five-judge constitution bench said in a 395-page order. While Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice S Abdul Nazeer were in favour of putting on hold for six months the practice of triple talaq and asking the government to come out with a law in this regard, Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman and U U Lalit held it as violative of the Constitution.

The majority verdict said any practice including triple talaq which is against the tenets of Quran is unacceptable. The three judges also said the practice of divorce through triple talaq is manifestly arbitrary and violative of the Constitution and must be struck down.

The minority verdict by CJI Khehar and Justice Nazeer, which favoured keeping on hold the practice of triple talaq for six months, asked the political parties to set aside their differences and help the Centre in coming out with a legislation. The judges in the minority verdict said that if the Centre does not bring a law within six months, then its injunction on triple talaq will continue.

CJI Khehar and Justice Nazeer in their minority verdict expressed hope that the Centre's legislation will take into account the concerns of Muslim bodies and the Sharia law. The bench, made up of judges from different religious communities — Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim — had heard seven pleas, including five separate petitions filed by Muslim women challenging the prevalent practice of 'triple talaq' in the community.

The petitioners had claimed that the practice of 'triple talaq' was unconstitutional. The Muslim women, who had filed the petitions, had challenged the practice of 'triple talaq' in which the husband pronounces 'talaq' thrice in one go, sometimes even by phone or a text message, to get divorce.

During the hearing, the apex court had observed that the practice of 'triple talaq' was the "worst" and "not a desirable" form of dissolution of marriage among Muslims, even though there were schools of thought which called it "legal". The Centre had earlier told the bench that it will come out with a law to regulate marriage and divorce among Muslims if 'triple talaq' is held invalid and unconstitutional by the apex court.

The government had termed all the three forms of divorce among the Muslim community — talaq-e-biddat, talaq hasan and talaq ahsan — as "unilateral" and "extra-judicial". It has said that all personal laws must be in conformity with the Constitution and rights of marriage, divorce, property and succession have to be treated in the same class and have to be in conformity with the Constitution.

The Centre had said 'triple talaq' is neither integral to Islam, nor a "majority versus minority" issue but rather an "intra-community tussle" between Muslim men and deprived women. The batch of pleas had also challenged the constitutional validity of other practices like 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims. The bench had taken up the main matter on its own as a petition titled "Muslim women's quest for equality".

We, as a representative body, welcome the Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court since it accords protection to Muslim personal law and says that personal laws cannot be tested by courts on the grounds of violation of fundamental rights. The majority (comprising Justice Kehar and Justice Abdul Nazeer with Justice Kurian Joseph agreeing) has accorded personal laws the status of a fundamental right being protected under the right to practice religion contained in Article 25. This is a huge victory for us as the judgment vindicates our stand and ensures the fundamental right of citizens of this country to freely profess and practice their religious faith/beliefs. This judgment shall ensure non-interference by the courts in matters of practices emanating from religious texts and belief systems of different communities.

Ultimately, the judgment has upheld the essence of fundamental rights ensured to the citizens of this country.

Insofar as the practice of talaq-e-biddat is concerned, we had already submitted to the court that the practice of three pronouncements of Talaq in one sitting, though it has basis in religious texts and belief thereon, is not the best way of pronouncing Talaq and various surveys suggest that it is a seldom resorted to. For a long time, we ourselves have taken steps to discourage this practice through community reform programmes and Model Form of Nikahnama issued by the Board.

In the affidavit filed on 22.05.2017, we had already informed the Court about our stand for issuing instructions to the Maulvis/Qazis to incorporate conditions in the Nikahnama to provide for the option to the marrying parties to exclude the option of pronouncing three Times Talaq in one sitting, in case of divorce taking place. We are aware that many Muslims believe talaq-e-biddat, meaning triple talaq given in one sitting, has basis in religious belief/practice.

However, while we accept the judgement, we will examine the issues of its implementation and will work to resolve the same.

Since the majority on the validity of talaq-e-biddat comprising Justice Nariman, Justice Lalit and Justice Kurain have held the practice to be illegal and have struck it down, the reference to Parliament by Chief Justice Kehar and Justice Abdul Nazeerto address the issue of talaq-e-biddatis inconsequential being the minority view on this point. The Supreme Court verdict, therefore, cannot be misused by the Government to try to interfere with personal laws through legislation.