Supreme Court will begin hearing from today on a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy practices among Muslims. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar will commence hearing on seven petitions, including five separate writ petitions filed by Muslim women challenging the practice of triple talaq.
The bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman, UU Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, will also take up the main matter on its own as a petition titled Muslim Women’s quest for equality.
As per information received, the hearing assumes significance as the apex court has decided to hear the case during the summer vacation, beginning today.
Supreme Court also suggested that it is likely to sit on Saturdays and Sundays to expeditiously decide the contentious and sensitive issues arising in the matter. The apex court had on its own taken cognizance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husbands.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi will assist the bench, which will also examine to what extent the court can interfere in the Muslim personal laws if they are found to be violative of the fundamental rights of citizens.
It is also a unique combination that of five judges of the bench belong to different religious communities – Sikh, Christian, Parsee, Hindu and Muslim.
