Triple talaq row: Cannot abolish 'Islamic process', says cleric

Criticising senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid's 'objectionable' statement on the Islamic divorce system of triple talaq being constitutionally unjustifiable, Muslim cleric Maulana Sajid Rashidi said it cannot be abolished, as it is an Islamic process dictated in the Quran.

"This is a religious matter which cannot be ruled out completely. It is an Islamic law. We would suggest the court to punish those who give talaq in a single sitting. However, as per Salman Khurshid, we cannot let the whole system be changed," he told ANI.

Further citing the case of 'instantaneous talaq', woman cleric Hina Zaheer asserted that there was no such provision in the Quran, adding that those indulging in this must be punished.

"Some have suggested that women should add clauses in the nikah nama. However, our community is not so progressive that women have a strong say in these matters and cannot oppose the religious views. Muslims should adopt what is prescribed in the Quran, rather than this form of instantaneous talaq to dissolve a marriage," she said.

Earlier on Friday, Khurshid while supporting his stance with examples said before the Supreme Court that the controversial Islamic divorce system could not be justified whatsoever.

"There was a discussion that whether triple talaq is valid constitutionally. Substantiating my view with reasons and examples, I asserted that it cannot be justified and cannot be given law's validation," Khurshid said during the hearing which entered its second day on Friday.

A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, started hearing arguments on the constitutional validity of the practice of 'instant triple talaq' or talaq-e-bidat on Friday.

The apex court has stated that it would first examine whether the Islamic divorce practice "is fundamental to religion" and whether "it falls in the category of enforceable fundamental rights."

The apex court further observed that it would not hear polygamy issue along with the Triple Talaq case.

The top court, earlier on Thursday, began hearing several pleas filed by Muslim women rejecting the practice of Triple Talaq.