Hyderabad, 20th May 2024 :In a recent incident in Telangana, a man was arrested for pronouncing ‘triple talaq’ on his wife via a WhatsApp audio message. This case, occurring in the town of Kothagudem, has highlighted ongoing issues related to the enforcement of the law prohibiting instant triple talaq.
The accused, Shaik Jameel from Bollurugudem in Paloncha mandal, allegedly pronounced ‘talaq’ three times in a WhatsApp audio message to his wife, with whom he had been having disputes. The woman had been staying at her maternal home for several months due to these conflicts. Despite initially filing a complaint with the local police, no action was taken, prompting her to seek help from the National Minority Commission. The commission took cognizance of the matter and directed the local police to register a case against Jameel.
The police subsequently booked Jameel under Section 4 of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, which criminalizes the practice of instant triple talaq. This act, passed in 2019, aims to protect the rights of Muslim women by making the pronouncement of triple talaq in any form—spoken, written, or electronic—a punishable offense】.
Women’s rights activists have expressed concern over the initial inaction by the local police and have criticized those who facilitated the pronouncement, including the witnesses and the advocate who sent the legal notice. They stressed the importance of educating the public about the legal invalidity of instant triple talaq and ensuring that such practices are promptly addressed by authorities.
This case underscores the need for greater awareness and strict enforcement of the law to protect the rights of women and prevent such incidents from occurring. It also highlights the crucial role of institutions like the National Minority Commission in ensuring that justice is served when local authorities fail to act.
