|
NEW DELHI, Aug. 22-- India's top court on Tuesday banned the practice of Islamic instant divorce locally called Triple Talaq, after describing it as unconstitutional and "un-Islamic." Triple Talaq, forms a practice where a Muslim man was authorized to divorce his wife by uttering the word "Talaq" (divorce) thrice. The landmark court decision came in response to petitions filled by five Muslim women who had been divorced in this way. Two rights groups had also petitioned in the apex court seeking an end of the custom. The verdict was delivered by a constitutional bench comprising of five top judges from different major faiths -- Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism. The bench delivered a spilt verdict of 3-2 invalidating the practice as part of the Muslim Personal Law. "Three of the five judges hearing the case said it is unconstitutional, while as the other two wanted it banned for six months till the government introduces new legislation," a lawyer present in the court said. The majority opinion held that Triple Talaq "is not integral to religious practice and violates constitutional morality." Women's rights activists and victims have hailed the court's decision as a historic win. There have been cases in which Muslim men in India have divorced their wives by issuing the Triple Talaq by letter, telephone and SMS (text message on mobile phones), WhatsApp and Skype. | 
