5-judge Supreme Court bench to hear triple talaq

New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India said on Thursday that a decision on the legality of triple talaq — the practice of Muslim men divorcing their wives by saying talaq thrice — is crucial and that’s why a five-judge Constitution Bench will sit during the summer vacation to hear the case. The matter will be taken up by the SC from May 11 to May 19.

When advocates — including former law minister Kapil Sibal and attorney general Mukul Rohatgi — expressed reservation, Chief Justice J.S. Khehar said, “There are three important issues we are taking up during the vacation. These are matters pending and if we don’t take up these cases, they will be pending for years... then don’t say huge pendency of cases in the Supreme Court.”

The two-judge bench, comprising the CJI and Justice D.Y. Chandra-chud, said that it was open to hearing the matter even on Sundays.

17 Supreme Court judges to work during break
Responding to Mr Rohatgi’s contention that setting up three Constitution Benches during the vacation will consume the entire vacation, Justice Khehar said, “If you say you do not want to do it (during vacation) then do not blame us. Last time, I kept on writing the judgments during the whole vacation. We have to work together. If you do not want us to work together, I will be very happy enjoying my vacation, but then do not tell us so many years have passed and the matter has not been heard.”  

The case relates to a batch of petitions filed in the Supreme Court — including by the Centre — on whether divorce by saying talaq three times is legal, or whether it impinges on equal rights or in this case, women’s rights, and whether fundamental right to freedom of religion takes precedence over basic freedoms, among other things.

This is the first time in India that 17 judges of the Supreme Court (three five-judge benches and one two-judge bench to hear regular matters) will work during summer vacation.