Five judges, hearing Triple Talaq plea from today, belong to five different religions

It is interesting that the judges belonging to different religions will hear pleas seeking amendment in the Muslim Personal Law relating to triple talaq, an Islamic divorce practice in which the husband can legally separate from his wife by uttering the word ‘talaq’ three times. The practice is vociferously opposed by women’s organisations across the country who complain of abuse and exploitation by their husbands.

At the same time, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) backs the practice saying it is a ‘valid’ way to end a marriage even though it may be wrong. After an executive meeting last month in Lucknow, AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi said Muslims have “complete constitutional right” to practise their personal law, which also put the responsibility on the community to “protect it by fully adhering to it”.

PM Modi with the Muslim delegation on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently exhorted the Muslim community not to view triple talaq through a political prism. At a recent meeting with 25 Muslim leaders, the PM urged the leaders to take responsibility so as to initiate reform in this regard.

The top court will also hear petitions from today challenging the validity of ‘nikah halala’ under which a divorced Muslim woman has to marry again, consummate the marriage and then break it if she wants to go back to her first husband.