The word "divorce" is well-known all around the globe and the concept of
dissolution of marriage is found in every religion and language. Marriage,
according to the concept of Islam is an alliance that has the nature of a social
contract and can be put to an end when it fails to fulfill it's purpose. Islam
has a practical and realistic outlook on all human affairs and as a result of
that it has recognized divorce but only as a necessary evil. Thus, resort to
divorce must be taken only in inevitable circumstances. No one can refuse that
at times such circumstances arise that makes it almost impossible for the couple
to pull together and live peacefully and happily in their conjugal home. And in
such situations, it is better to part ways rather than dragging on with the
bitter, miserable and weak reality in a partnership that is forced. It is more
conducive for the couple to part ways with good will and grace.Â
Talaq, Khula, Mubarat are a few methods of dissolving a Muslim marriage.Â
Triple Talaq was recognized by Sunni Muslims and unfortunately it gained
prevalence in the entire Muslim society of India.Â
Holding it to be a form of divorce is not simple. It is problematic and complex.
This method of dissolution created many socio-legal issues in the society. Among
all the rules and regulations of the Muslim Personal Law Board that have been
criticized and protested against adversely, Triple Talaq has been on top. It is
an extremely sensitive issue that has touched the lives of Muslim women. This
process developed through various stages of history and if we go back to the
controversies that cropped up after every few days with every case being filed
in the courts, show that it was a method widely resorted to.Â
Seeing through what was the social aspect of Triple Talaq, it must be borne in
mind that the society of Indian Muslims in the present day were very far from
the true Islamic teachings, principles and values. In simple terms, it can be
said that Islam and Muslims are two different concepts that are far from each
other.Â
Many Muslim sects have rightly waived off the effectiveness of Triple Talaq as
an irrevocable form of divorce. It's rigidity has been put to an end. They have
made the law of three divorces altogether amount to one revocable divorce. The
courts started departing from their old approaches that were rigid and are
inclining towards the views and approaches that are progressive. Hence, the
courts are resorting to the Quranic way of marriage dissolution.
In recent years, rights of women have been ameliorating by advanced
interpretations of Muslim Law by the judiciary. These verdicts are markers that
serve to support the rights of Muslim women.Â
After a long battle of cases like, Shah Bano (1985), Danial Latifi (2001),
Shamim Ara (2002) and finally Shayra Bano (2016), the Indian Government
formulated a Bill known as The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on
Marriage) Bill, 2018Â on December 28, 2017. The Bill made Talaq-ul-Biddat or
Triple Talaq in any form, spoken, in writing or by electronic means such as
email, SMS and instant messengers illegal and void.Â
The prominent features of the Bill are:
1. Declaration of Talaq-ul-Biddat to be void and illegal
2. Punishment upto 3 years and fine for resorting to it
3. Subsistence allowance to protect the rights of married Muslim women from
husband for herself and dependent children. Amount to be determined by the
Magistrate.Â
4. Custody of minor children shall be granted to the woman
5. Offences under this Act cognisable and non-bailable.
Frailty of the Bill:
1. Criminalisation of the practice- Bill ends up criminalising a law since the
concept of marriage is of civil nature.
2. Discriminatory in nature- Muslim men can be prosecuted even without agreement
of the wife, due to declaration of illegality. Three year jail term for the
husband particularly when in no other religion is there such inclement
punishment for uttering three words.
3. Removal of judicial oversight-Making the offence cognisable, the police have
the authority of arresting the husband without leave of the court.
4. Custody and allowance- Section 3 declares talaq to be void implying that it
cannot result in divorce, yet the Bill goes on to discuss post-divorce matters.
Since talaq has been declared illegally void, the husband-wife relationship
still persists.
5. Virtual shutting of the doors on any possibility of reconciliation.
The Islamic policy never meant to confer an absolute authority of talaq upon a
husband to be misused by him. Unfortunately, this unrestricted power was always
misinterpreted and gravely distorted and the actual guidelines of Islam for it,
was flouted by the society as well as the courts. Islam leans in the favour of
subsistence and saving the marital tie and not on divorce and separation. The
main motive was and still is protecting the women who were victims of this
weapon of Triple Talaq in the hands of husband's to escape their obligations.
There can be no doubt that Triple Talaq was a wicked and reprehensible act both
in law and theology. It has been asserted in various verses of the Quran and
traditions by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Â
It was never a part of Muslim Law and can never be. Quran clearly illuminates
the method of dissolution of nuptial ties, thus only that method must be
resorted to.Â
References:
http://www.swaniti.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Brief-Note-on-Muslim-Women-Bill-2017
Swaniti-Initiative.pdf
http://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/triple-talaqÂ
http://www.livelaw.in/need-reconsideration-triple-talaq-bill/
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-very-flawed-law/article22288659.ece
https://www.academia.edu/4515089/Position_of_Triple_Divorce_under_Muslim_Law
How To File For Mutual Divorce In Delhi Mutual Consent Divorce is the Simplest Way to Obtain a D...
It is hoped that the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which intends to inc...
One may very easily get absorbed in the lives of others as one scrolls through a Facebook news ...
The Inherent power under Section 482 in The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (37th Chapter of t...
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a concept that proposes the unification of personal laws across...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various sectors of the economy, and the legal i...
Please Drop Your Comments