A new era of equality, dignity has begun for Muslim women: Amit Shah

In a 3:2 majority verdict the court held that the practice was unconstitutional.

Hailing the Supreme Court's decision to strike down instant triple talaq or talaq-biddat while declaring it unconstitutional, BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday said the apex court has granted right to Muslim women to live with equality and dignity.

The BJP president said in a statement that triple talaq is not in existence in many Muslim nations, adding that the decision comes as a relief to crores of Muslim women.

"I welcome the Supreme Court's historic decision on triple talaq matter. This is a victory of fundamental Constitutional rights of Muslim women. The Supreme Court has granted right to Muslim women to live with dignity and equality," Shah's statement posted on his Twitter handle said.

"I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government for putting forth this matter before the court," he added.

He said a new era has begun for Muslim women in which they can live with equality and self-esteem.

In a 3:2 majority verdict the court held that the practice was unconstitutional and it violates fundamental rights of a woman as it irrevocably ends a marriage without any scope of reconciliation.

The CJI and Justice Abdul Nazeer had said that the practice could not be barred. It had directed the centre to come up with a legislation within six months. However, the other three judges on the Bench Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman and U U Lalit declared the practice as unconstitutional. The practice of triple talaq is now held unconstitutional due to a 3:2 majority.

''Its a small step from Supreme Court, a giant step for women, It is a very, very important judgment. This makes women equal, as they are entitled to be under the Constitution,'' Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said on the judgement.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the decision historic and welcomed it.

"It is a historic judgement, it provides not only justice but empowerment also. Welcome it," he said.

The majority observed that triple talaq violates fundamental rights of a woman as it irrevocably ends the marriage without any scope of reconciliation. Justice Nariman while dissenting with the CJI said triple talaq is a disapproved form of divorce.

Justice Kurian Joseph who also dissented with the CJI said that there are four sources of Islamic law. Only the Quran is the first source of law, therefore sources other than the Quran are supplement to what is in it. Therefore, there can be nothing more than what is written in the Quran.

OneIndia News