The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Monday, May 22, over the triple talaq issue saying that it will issue an advisory requesting people who perform nikah to follow certain steps.
The affidavit has said that the person performing nikah will be the one who will be advising the bridegroom in case of differences between the couple which may lead to talaq. It also added that the bridegroom shall not pronounce divorce thrice in one sitting since it is an undesirable practice in Shariat law.
The AIMPLB also reportedly said it will call for a social boycott of those who give triple talaq.
The affidavit has also included a step that says that qazis performing nikah will also advise both the bride and the bridegroom to incorporate a condition in the nikahnama to exclude resorting to pronouncement of three divorces by her husband in one sitting.
Women reject AIMPLB's suggestion
Meanwhile, Muslim women organisations and aggrieved petitioners have rejected AIMPLB's move by terming it as an "eyewash" and "useless exercise."
"I do not think that it will be effective for the simple reason they do not have any supervisory and controlling power, no legal status and women are also unlikely to rake up the issue at the time of marriage, fearing the prospective groom will not marry her if such conditions are placed," said Indira Jaising, senior lawyer and former additional solicitor general.
Another lawyer, Balaji Srinivasan, who is fighting for triple talaq victim Shayara Bano, has said that AIMPLB's decision is similar to the board accepting the undesirability of the triple talaq law.
"Their proposed circular talks about what qazis should do when preparing a nikahnama (marriage contract). What about those which have already been signed? What is the fate of those women?" said Srinivasan.
