‘Triple Talaq’ among muslims in India: Contours of the Debate

Triple talaq among Muslims is actually the practice of pronouncing talaq (divorce) three times in one single sitting, which is considered by ulama as equivalent to three talaqs in three separate sittings. Hence called as, the Instant Triple talaq but popularly known as the triple talaq. Since the beginning of the controversy there has been no unanimity among different scholars in India regarding the issue of supporting or banning triple talaq. It was Shayara Bano case of 2016 that once again renewed this debate in the country and led to the passing of triple talaq bill in Lok Sabha in 2017. This work intends to look into the issue of triple talaq in India in the light of the renewed emphasis upon progressive interpretation of Muslim personal laws. For this purpose different positions held by the major stakeholders in the debate will be analyzed with a look at their approaches which fall in the either of the two categories of conventional or progressive. These stakeholders include, AIMPLB (All India Muslim Personal Law Board), AISPLB (All India Shia Personal Law Board), BMMA (Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan) and AIMWPLB (All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board). These organizations have different yet somewhat overlapping opinions, ideological background and strategies for reform. While some being in support of triple talaq categorically reject any reform in the already established Muslim personal laws; there are others who demand a complete abolition of the practice of triple talaq in the light of actual Qur'anic injunctions as is the case with the Muslim countries all over the world. The methodology adopted in the paper would be textual and literary analysis, while visiting and analyzing the official websites of concerned boards, press releases, and survey reports published by the respective organizations.