The Supreme Court will commence 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 J Khehar will commence hearing on seven petitions, including five separate writ petitions filed by Muslim women challenging the practice of triple talaq prevalent in the community and terming it unconstitutional.
Significantly, the bench comprises 5 judges of 5 different religion. Their names are:
- Kurian Joseph, a Christian
- R F Nariman, a Parsi
- U U Lalit, a Hindu
- Abdul Nazeer, a Muslim
- Justice J Khehar, a Sikh
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 enshrined in the Constitution.
The choice of judges is evoking interest among social media:
My hunch is SC will create a regulatory mechanism for #TripleTalaq —
5 judges of 5 faiths on SC triple talaq bench https://t.co/qdjEOCCbop— Tufail Ahmad (@tufailelif) May 11, 2017
@OneTipOneHand_ 1 issue, 2 sides, 3 talaq, 5 judges.. ye to Fibonacci series ban gaya.
— Bulla 2002 (@BullaDmello) May 11, 2017
#TripleTalaq is gender issues not religious then why 5 judges from different religion why there is not a single women judge on panel
— Jaydeep vasava (@jaydeepTwittes) May 11, 2017
Isn’t judges from 5 different religions a reflection of disbelief on the impartiality of the supreme court judge? #TripleTalaqhearing
— kiran ulhas limaye (@kiranlimaye) May 11, 2017
.Supreme Court has Constituted 5 Judges Bench,belonging to 5 religions-Sikh,Hindu,Muslim,Christian & Parsee , to hear Triple Talaak. GREAT
— Rama Sanjeeva Reddy (@thersreddy) May 11, 2017
SC bench on #TripleTalaq has judges from 5 diff religions.
Are they there for #TripleTalaq or to highlight best practices from all religions— Varun Mahajan (@varunmahajan82) May 11, 2017
It can happen only in India. Five judges deciding triple talak case from five different religions.
— Gyanant Singh (@gyanant) May 10, 2017
(With inputs from PTI)
(Feature image source: Reuters)