In a majority 3:2 judgment, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside talaq-e-biddat or instant and irrevocable talaq as a "manifestly arbitrary" practice, which is not protected by Article 25 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution.
Here are some of the positive reactions to the verdict.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, saying, "Judgment of the Hon'ble SC on Triple Talaq is historic. It grants equality to Muslim women and is a powerful measure for women empowerment."
BJP chief Amit Shah said it was a historic judgment. "The judgment marks the beginning of a new era of pride and equality for Muslim women. The BJP welcomes the respects the expansion of Muslim women's rights and sees today's court order as a step towards a determined 'New India'. It is a historic judgement, and not a question of victory or defeat. It's an assertion of equal rights for Muslim women and the prevalence of their basic rights under the Constitution," he said.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley: "The Supreme Court judgment in the triple talaq case undoes the injustice to Muslim women who were victims of a unilateral termination of a matrimonial relationship."
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had regularly referred to the issue in his speeches, hailed the verdict. "We welcome the Supreme Court verdict on triple talaq. It will allow Muslim women to her justice," he said.
BSP chief Mayawati welcomes SC judgment on triple talaq, says it is in the interest of Muslim women. She said it was now the Centre's responsibility to follow the Supreme Court's directions and bring in a legislation within the given time period without engaging in "politics of a secret RSS-agenda."
Rebecca John, senior advocate says, "It's a 400 page judgement and I haven't read it through. But based on the news reports I must say it is a good and progressive one which was long overdue for Muslim women, who have fought long and lonely battle. If any one has to be celebrated for this, then it has to be petitioners and those who stood by them all this while. I welcome the fact that a regressive unjust practice has been set aside."
Indira Jaising, senior advocate who appeared for Muslim women petitioners, says, "This battle has been going on for 25-years now. It began with Mary Roy Judgement (1986) against inheritance laws which till then were biased towards sons. It resurfaced during the Geeta Hariharan Judgement (2015) that gave rights to mothers to be sole guardians of their children. Today's judgement is also a step forward."
Congress welcomes the verdict, says Ranjeet Surjewala.
CPI(M) welcomes the judgment, saying, "Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) welcomes the Supreme Court verdict treating arbitrary and instant triple 'talaq' as unconstitutional."
Puducherry Governor Kiran Bedi hails the verdict. She tweeted, "Apex Court is directing the Legislature to do what it should have done long ago i.e. undo the injustice that Muslim Women have been suffering."
Zakia Soman, co-founder of the Indian Muslim Women’s Movement, says ''It’s a very happy day for us. It’s a historic day. We, the Muslim women, are entitled to justice from the courts as well as the legislature.'' The Movement was part of the legal battle to end triple 'talaq'.
