SC orders protection for woman who challenged nikah-halala

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered police protection for Shabnam Rani who has challenged nikah-halala and polygamy before the top court.

Rani was reportedly attacked by her brother-in-law and his friend last week in Bulandshahr.

A bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra ordered superintendent of police (SP) of Bulandshahr to provide adequate security to Rani after her advocate pointed out that the attack was on account of the petition she has filed before the top court.

Uttar Pradesh’s additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhatti told the court that police protection had been extended to Rani and an FIR was immediately registered against the accused.

But on the lawyer’s submission that Rani would no longer live in Bulandshahr and move in with her parents in Delhi the court asked her to submit a representation to the SP who will take action accordingly.

The bench also asked the district administration to process Rani’s application for compensation as per the top court’s direction in the acid attack case.

The district hospital was also directed to provide all kinds of medical aid to the victim. Shabnam Rani has moved the top court accusing her husband, Muzammil, of giving her triple talaq and later also forcing her to perform halala with her brotherin-law, which she refused. She had gone to Bulandshahr to meet her in-laws when two men threw acid on her. She was rushed to the local hospital and her condition is said to be stable.

Shabnam is one of the six women who have filed petitions in the SC against nikah-halala and polygamy. She is the second petitioner to have been attacked.

The Supreme Court gave liberty to the other petitioners to seek protection from the police.

KERALA NUNS DEMAND BISHOP’S ARREST

Catholic nuns in Kerala have decided to intensify their agitation unless Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mullakkal is arrested immediately. The Bishop is to appear before the Kerala police for questioning on Wednesday. The nuns have been on a dharna in Kochi for the last 10 days seeking action against the bishop while other activists are on a relay hunger strike in the nuns’ support. As their stir got support from different quarters including the laity, the nuns will step up their agitation.