Anti-triple talaq activists hope SC verdict will be in their

Activists from West Bengal under the banner of Joint Movement Committee, which has been campaigning for a ban on triple talaq and polygamy, today exuded confidence that the Supreme Court verdict on the issue will be in their favour.
The Supreme Court has fixed May 11 for commencement of hearing on pleas challenging the validity of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy practices among Muslims.
The activists have submitted a mass petition, signed by one lakh Muslim women from West Bengal, to the president and the prime minister and will hold a dharna at Jantar Mantar tomorrow over the issue.

Syed Tanveer Nasreen, an activist and an academician from Kolkata, said the constitutional rights of women, and gender equality should be ensured and divorce should take place in the court of law.
"It is a patriarchal practice which seeks to exploit the women in the name of religion. We have great faith on Chief Justice JS Khehar, who, we believe, will do justice and hold human rights above the sentiments of minorities," Nasreen said.
Questioning the locus standi of the Muslim Personal Law Board which has opposed the petitions filed in the SC, Osman Mallick, Convenor of the Joint Movement Committee, said the board is just an NGO and holds no authority to comment on such issues on behalf of the entire Muslim community.

"The Sharia law directly hits the basic structure of the constitution as it does not believe in gender equality. If there has to be a talaq, let it come through the judicial process," Mallick said at a press conference here.