India's top court has banned the Muslim practice that allows men to instantly divorce their wives if they say 'talaq' three times.
India's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday the tradition was unconstitutional and requested the government officially put an end to triple talaq.
The bench comprised of five senior judges of different faiths deliberated for three months before issuing its order.
The ruling was pronounced on a petition filed two years ago by Shayara Bano, a Muslim woman from the state of Uttarakhand whose husband of 15 years sent her a letter with 'talaq' written three times on it and left her.
Similar petitions filed by four other women were heard with Shayara Bano's petition.
According to the practice, men simply have to utter the words, write them down or send them via social media, email or text to break the marriage bond.
Now, the government must amend the sections of India's Muslim personal law that allows the practice known as triple talaq.
More than 20 Muslim countries, including neighboring Pakistan and Bangladesh, have banned the practice.
But in India, the practice has continued with the protection of laws that allow Muslim, Christian and Hindu communities to follow religious law in matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.
Comments