'Unislamic, draconian': Free Muslim women of talaq-e-hasan clutches too, says plea to SC

By A Representative
Considered close to the BJP-RSS dispensation, Firoz Bakht Ahmed, formerly chancellor of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University and grandnephew of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, has approached the Supreme Court for a ban on talaq-e-hasan, a form of divorce by which a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq once every month over a three-month period. He insisted, the perpetrators of this form of talaq should be jailed for 10-years.
Calling the practice of talaq-e-hasan or talaq-e-husna "void and unconstitutional", Ahmed cited a petition filed by Benazeer Heena, a journalist, before the Apex Court, stating that the curse is similar to triple talaq, "cured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi", though regretting, the bane of talaq-e-hasan continues to "haunt and horrify Muslim women."
In an email alert to Counterview, Ahmed, who approached the Supreme Court through his counsel Atulesh Kumar, said, "The only difference between triple talaq and talaq-e-hasan is the gap of three months, whereas triple talaq is given in one sitting... It is high time that Muslim women come out of the clutches of this draconian practice."
Seeking directions from the court to the Union of India to frame guidelines for uniform grounds and procedures for divorce for all citizens, Ahmed claimed, "Talaq-e-hasan and other forms of unilateral extra judicial talaq are an evil plague similar to 'sati'... Many poor women in Muslim society are leading a pathetic and pitiable life owing to the practice." Hence there should be "complete ban on talaq-e-hasan and other forms of unilateral extra-judicial talaqs."
Even though Benazeer filed her case with the Apex Court soon after receiving her first divorce notice in May this year, after which she was got second the third notices, regreted Ahmed, the court appeared to believe there is "no urgency in the matter".
First, she was declined the request and asked her to make an application before the registrar instead. On receiving her final notice of talaq, the court did list the matter, but told her counsel, Anand, to seek instruction from the petitioner, Benazeer, whether she was open to divorce by mutual consent if "meher" was taken care of.
Claiming that talaq in Islam is "the most heinous and horrendous act/ crime in the eyes of Allah", Ahmed cites the case of Sahaba, a follower of Prophet Muhammad, who approached Him to divorce his wife. The Prophet asked him the reason. Sahaba made many complaints against his wife. The Prophet then asked him if his wife just had any one good quality. Sahaba, a truthful man, responded that she did have a good quality.
At that point, the Prophet advised the Sahaba, “Look here, if your wife has 99 (ninety nine) negative qualities but just one good quality, shun thinking about divorcing her and spend the rest of your life with her just focusing on that single good quality and treat her as your dutiful wife as Allah considers the sin of divorce to be one of the most pugnacious, unpalatable and unpleasant among all sons committed by humans."
Based on this anecdote, Bhakht said, all forms of unilateral extra-judicial talaqs, including talaq-e-hasan/ talaq-e-husna, are void and unconstitutional, are arbitrary and irrational sans compassion. They also lack concern for Articles 14, 15, 21 & 25 of the Constitution of India. The court to the Union of India should frame guidelines for gender neutral, religion neutral, uniform grounds for divorce and its procedure for all citizens, he added.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

The cost of being Indian: How inequality and market logic redefine rights

By Vikas Gupta We, the people of India, are engaged in a daily tryst—read: struggle—for basic human rights. For the seemingly well-to-do, the wish list includes constant water supply, clean air, safe roads, punctual public transportation, and crime-free neighbourhoods. For those further down the ladder, the struggle is starker: food that fills the stomach, water that doesn’t sicken, medicines that don’t kill, houses that don’t flood, habitats at safe distances from polluted streams or garbage piles, and exploitation-free environments in the public institutions they are compelled to navigate.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

Proposals for Babri Masjid, Ram Temple spark fears of polarisation before West Bengal polls

By A Representative A political debate has emerged in West Bengal following recent announcements about plans for new religious structures in Murshidabad district, including a proposed mosque to be named Babri Masjid and a separate announcement by a BJP leader regarding the construction of a Ram temple in another location within Behrampur.

Search This Blog