Activists say the current law discriminates against women and are calling for a well-defined Muslim law that criminalises polygamy, unilateral divorce, child custody and child marriage. (Associated Press Photo)
Although it is a 'crime' but there was no scope of change in the 'triple talaq' divorce ritual, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said today, rejecting a call for making a three-month period mandatory before finalisation of the separation.
Maulana Abdul Raheem Qureshi, spokesman for the law board, told PTI that according to the Quran and Hadith, triple talaq is a 'crime', but once uttered the process would be considered complete and cannot be changed,
He said that while some groups within the Muslim community had appealed to interpret saying 'talaq' thrice as just once, but there was 'no scope' to reconsider it.
Last month a study by a women's rights organisation had found that more than 90 per cent of Muslim women surveyed want the "triple talaq" divorce ritual and polygamy banned from family civil law in the country.
The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan said its survey also showed that three quarters of interviewees wanted a ban on child marriage, indicating a need for reforms in the Muslim personal law which governs family-related issues in India.
Activists say the current law discriminates against women and are calling for a well-defined Muslim law that criminalises polygamy, unilateral divorce, child custody and child marriage.
Maintaining that the practice of 'triple talaq' was causing immense problems in Muslim society, a body of clerics had written to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Islamic scholars to build consensus on making a three-month period mandatory before finalisation of divorce.
The ritual, which often tears apart the life a married woman should be deliberated upon, spokesman of All India Shia Personal Law Board Maulana Yasoob Abbas. Ulemas of the faith should sit together and deliberate on the system of 'triple talaq', he said.