Triple talaq: No religious practice can violate fundamental rights, govt tells SC

Govt says even core and essential religious practices cannot violate fundamental rights; SC asks AIMPLB can women have option of saying no to triple talaq in 'nikahnama'

Apurva Vishwanath
Updated18 May 2017, 05:34 AM IST
The SC has asked the AIMPLB if all ‘Qazis’ can be asked to include an option of saying ‘no’ to triple talaq as a condition at the time of marriage. Photo: PTI
The SC has asked the AIMPLB if all ‘Qazis’ can be asked to include an option of saying ‘no’ to triple talaq as a condition at the time of marriage. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: The government said in the Supreme Court on Wednesday that no religious practice can violate fundamental rights, as the apex court continued hearing pleas against the Muslim practice of triple talaq.

“Even core and essential religious practices cannot violate fundamental rights. What if a religion sanctions human sacrifice as an essential custom? Should the courts allow it,” attorney general Mukul Rohatgi argued.

Muslim women are a minority within a minority religion, he said, arguing that triple talaq, which allows a Muslim man to divorce his wife by uttering the word talaq thrice, must be declared unconstitutional.

ALSO READ: The case against triple talaq

A five-judge constitution bench comprising chief justice J.S. Khehar, and justices Kurian Joseph, Rohinton F. Nariman, U.U. Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Muslim practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy under Muslim personal law. Nikah halala requires a female divorcee to marry someone else, consummate the marriage and then get a divorce to remarry her previous husband.

The apex court on Monday clarified that it will only examine the triple talaq practice and keep the remaining issues open.

The government had asked the court to examine all the issues and said it would bring in a new law to regulate marriage and divorce among Muslims if triple talaq is declared unconstitutional.

ALSO READ: Triple talaq hearing: A timeline of events

Under the Constitution, Muslims and other minority religions are allowed to regulate matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance through their own civil codes.

Earlier, the bench asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) whether a woman can be given the option of saying ‘no’ to triple talaq at the time of execution of ‘nikahnama’ (Islamic marriage contract).

The court is likely to conclude the hearing on Thursday.

PTI contributed to the story.

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First Published:18 May 2017, 05:34 AM IST
Business NewsPoliticsPolicyTriple talaq: No religious practice can violate fundamental rights, govt tells SC

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