Triple Talaq has no place in a secular country: Centre tells Supreme Court

New Delhi, Oct 8: The Centre on Friday opposed before the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, saying anything that is subjected to the whims of menfolk was incompatible with the principle of gender equality and justice as enshrined in the Constitution.

“Gender justice and dignity of women are non-negotiable and overarching constitutional values, and can brook no compromise in a secular country like India,” the government stated. In an affidavit, the NDA government contended that triple talaq, nikah halala' (bar against remarriage with divorced husband, without an intervening marriage with another man) and polygamy cannot be regarded as an integral part of the religion.

“Even theocratic countries where Islam is a state religion have undergone reforms, so these practices cannot be regarded as integral to the religion and India being a secular republic, there is no reason to deny the women rights available under the Constitution,” the law ministry said.

Coming out in support of a batch of petitions, including one by advocate Balaji Srinivasan on behalf of Shayara Bano, the government said the issue of the validity of triple talaq, nikah halala' and polygamy needs to be considered in the light of principles of gender justice and overriding constitutional principles of non-discrimination, dignity and equality.

The Centre stated: “Secularism being a hallmark of Indian democracy, no part of its citizenry ought to be denied access to fundamental rights, much less can a section of secular society be worse off than its counterparts in theocratic countries, many of which have undergone reforms.”

The Centre said though polygamy was regarded progressive and path-breaking centuries ago, in light of the principle of gender justice, it required “serious reconsideration”.

Triple talaq, nikah halala' and polygamy cannot be regarded as essential and integral part of the religion and would therefore be not entitled to protection under Article 25 (right to practice religion) of the Constitution, it added.

Even an affidavit by the Muslim Personal Law Board has referred to those practices as “undesirable” and which cannot be elevated to essential religious practice, the government said.

“Personal laws must be examined in the light of the overarching goal of gender justice and dignity of women... Any provision of the personal law which is inconsistent with fundamental rights is void,” the government said. Can personal laws, meant to preserve diverse identity, be used as a pretext to deny women equality and status available under the Constitution, the Centre asked