The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a batch of petitions on Thursday challenging the constitutional validity of unilateral divorce practices in the Muslim community, including Talaq-e-Hasan and Talaq-e-Ahsan.
According to the court’s cause list, the matter is scheduled for hearing on March 19 before a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi.
The petition questions whether these forms of extrajudicial divorce, which allow a Muslim man to dissolve a marriage without the consent of his wife, violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution. The pleas specifically raise concerns over the rights to equality and dignity of Muslim women.
During an earlier hearing, the apex court issued interim directions in individual cases but did not make any final determination on the validity of the practices.
The upcoming hearing is expected to examine the broader constitutional questions surrounding these forms of divorce.