Why many got the SC verdict on triple talaq wrong at first

As a practise in the Supreme Court, it is the senior most judge who reads out the order first.

The triple talaq verdict was on Tuesday delivered by the Supreme Court. The practise was struck down by the court in a 3:2 judgement and declared unconstitutional.

Ten minutes into the reading of the verdict by Chief Justice of India, J S Khehar, almost all media outlets reported that the practise of triple talaq was declared valid and it was up to the Centre to make a law on the same.

In about ten minutes, the entire narrative changed and the correct news about the practise being struck down as unconstitutional was reported. What led to this confusion and why did most outlets get it wrong.

Here is what led to the confusion:

As a practise in the Supreme Court, it is the senior most judge who reads out the order first. CJI Khehar being the senior most read out his order first in which he declared triple talaq valid and directed the centre to come up with a law. Both the CJI and Justice Abdul Nazeer upheld triple talaq.

However the entire order changed when the three other judges on the Bench, Justices Kurian Joseph, R Nariman and U U Lalit gave a dissenting verdict. All three were unanimous in their verdicts while striking down the practise. As a result of this triple talaq was struck down by a 3:2 majority.

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