MP court quashes triple talaq for not following Sharia

Bhopal: A family court in Madhya Pradesh has declared the triple talaq given by a man to his wife as void on the ground that the process followed was not in tune with Sharia law, the Islamic legal and moral code.

Additional principal judge Omprakash Sharma  delivered the judgment on March 9 while disposing of a petition filed by the victim, Arshi Khan, challenging the divorce given to her by her husband Tousif Sheikh by adopting the triple talaq method.

“The court struck down the triple talaq on the ground that the man did not follow Sharia law while divorcing his wife,” petitioner’s counsel Arvind Gaud told reporters on Sunday.

According to him, the couple married on January 19, 2013. But, their marriage life came under strain when she was subjected to harassment by his spouse for dowry. Later, Arshi filed a case against her husband.

Tousif, however, verbally divorced her by uttering triple talaq inside the Ujjain court premises on October 9, 2014. Later, he sent a divorce notice to her.

Arshi, however, challenged the divorce in the court saying it was not done as per Sharia law that guides Muslim marriage and talaq.

While setting aside the triple talaq, the court in its order said it has not been mentioned by Tousif which method, Talaq Ahsan or Talaq Hasan, he had adopted to divorce his wife.

Besides, there was no evidence to establish that the woman was present when he uttered triple talaq, which is mandatory under law.

The court also observed that no reconciliation initiative was taken by the either party.

The development assumes significance considering that a number of petitions relating to the matter were pending before the Supreme Court for disposal.