Tracing The Case Over Two Years

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down the practice of instant triple talaq (Talaq-e-Biddat), saying it was arbitrary and against the tenets of Islam. Here’s a timeline of the case:

2015

Oct 16:

SC bench asks CJI to set up a bench to examine if Muslim women face gender discrimination in cases of divorce while dealing with a case of Hindu succession

2016

Feb 5:

SC asks attorney general to assist it on the pleas challenging constitutional validity of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy March 28: SC asks Centre to file a copy of the report of a high-level panel on women and the law June 29: SC says triple talaq among the Muslims will be tested on “touchstone of constitutional framework” Oct 7: Centre opposes in Supreme Court these practices and favours a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism Dec 9: The Allahabad High Court stops short of calling the practice of triple talaq under Muslim law unconstitutional

2017

Feb 16:

The Supreme Court says a five-judge constitution bench will be set up to hear and decide the challenge on ‘triple talaq’, ‘nikah halala’ and polygamy

March 27:

AIMPLB tells SC that the pleas were not maintainable as issues fall outside judiciary’s realm March 30: SC says these issues are “very important” and involve “sentiments” and says a constitution bench would start hearing the matter from May 11 April 11:

Centre tells SC that the practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and denies fundamental rights April 16: Prime Minister Modi says justice should be done to Muslim women April 18: Attorney general says triple talaq should not be allowed as women have as much right as men April 21: Delhi High Court dismisses a plea seeking to stop the practice of triple talaq on Hindu women married to Muslim men April 29:

Opposition charges PM with politicising the triple talaq issue for electoral mileage

May 3: SC allows Salman Khurshid as amicus curiae in hearing of pleas challenging constitutional validity of triple talaq, ‘nikah halala’ and polygamy May 11: SC says it will determine if triple talaq is in line with the Constitution and fundamental to Islam May 12:

SC says the practice of triple talaq is the “worst” and “not desirable” form of dissolution of marriages among Muslims May 15:

Attorney general tells the SC that the Centre will bring in a new law to regulate and marriage divorce among Muslims

May 16:

AIMPLB says triple talaq is a 1,400-year-old practice, and constitutional morality and equity cannot arise when a matter of faith is concerned May 17:

Supreme Court asks AIMPLB is a woman can be given an option of saying ‘no’ to triple talaq at the time of execution of nikahnama May 18:

SC reserves verdict on batch of petitions challenging constitutional validity of triple talaq practice among Muslims August 15: PM praises Muslim women starting a movement against the practice of triple talaq