India bans instant divorce

India’s Supreme Court has banned a Muslim practice that allows men to instantly divorce their wives, saying it is unconstitutional.

The bench deliberated for three months before issuing its order in response to petitions from seven Muslim women.

Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on television that since the court deemed the practice unconstitutional there was no need for further legislative action by the government.

The decision was widely praised by women’s rights activists as a step towards granting Muslim women greater equality and justice.