While the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down ‘triple talaq’ terming it as ‘void, illegal and unconstitutional’ was welcomed by most of the sections of the society, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi, in an opposite stand, called it a “contentious issue” that demands a more nuanced step than the one taken.
Owaisi highlighted the fact that even the five-judge bench could not arrive at the decision unanimously as Justice Nariman, Justice Lalit and Justice Kurian opposed the view of Justice Nazir and Chief Justice of India J S Khehar.
“Triple Talaq is a very contentious issue. That is why you see even in the Supreme Court, there was no unanimity,” he said.
When asked whether the top court’s decision was a positive step towards women empowerment, Owaisi said the number of cases of women being victimised due to triple talaq was miniscule, adding that if the BJP really wants to empower women, it should “bring a legislation and give reservation to only Muslim women in education and employment; that will be the greatest empowerment”.
“You (BJP) control your 'Gaurakshaks' who have made many Muslim women widows. The Muslim women have lost their children. It is a social evil that is why the Muslim Personal Law Board has taken this up as a social reform movement. And it is only through the Muslim Personal Law Board's reform programme that this inhuman practice will come down in coming months and years,” he said.
Owaisi also accused the Modi government of trying to make a ‘Hindu Rashtra’, the pursuit of which will “pen a can of worms, as a uniform civil court will not work in a diversified country”.
He further said that he respects the Supreme Court’s decision, but there are many issues attached to it and its going to be a “great, herculean task to implement it on the ground”, as a legislation is not the answer to solving problems.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court struck down the practice of Triple Talaq as 'unconstitutional' by a 3:2 majority.
The five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) J.S. Khehar, deciding on the verdict, was seemingly split on the legality of the practice.
Justice Nariman, Justice Lalit and Justice Kurian opposed the view of Justice Nazir and Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and dubbed the practice of Triple Talaq as unconstitutional and unislamic.
The Supreme Court further asked the Union government to formulate a new legislation within six months.
