The Supreme Court today asked Muslim bodies how can a practice like triple talaq be a matter of faith when they have been asserting that it is patriarchal, bad in theology and sinful.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also reserved its verdict on a clutch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq among Muslims after hearing parties including the Centre, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board and various others for six days in summer vacation.
The court took note of repeated submissions of the AIMPLB and former Union minister and senior lawyer Salman Khurshid, who is assisting it in personal capacity, that triple talaq is not mentioned in holy Quran but the court should not examine it.
Senior advocate Amit Singh Chadha, appearing for Shayara Bano, one of the victims of triple talaq, Asked the court not to resort to hands off policy. He said judiciary was the only hope for people, opposed to it as Muslim bodies say it is bad, but be allowed to continue and the Centre says that it is undesirable, but it would not legislate.
On conclusion of the six-day long marathon hearing, the bench thanked the lawyers for assisting it during summer vacation.