Talaq-e-Hasan: SC Questions Unilateral Divorce, Considers 5-Judge Bench

• Talaq-e-Hasan, a traditional Islamic divorce method, is under Supreme Court scrutiny, with cases challenging its constitutional validity.
• Unlike instant triple talaq, Talaq-e-Hasan involves three pronouncements over three months, allowing for reconciliation opportunities.
• The Supreme Court has questioned its unilateral nature, calling it unsuitable for a civilized society, despite its current legal validity under Muslim Personal Law.
• Petitions by Muslim women argue Talaq-e-Hasan violates fundamental rights (Articles 14, 15, 21) due to its male-dominated process.
• The Court has indicated a potential referral to a five-judge Constitution Bench and has ordered mediation in some cases, staying divorce pronouncements.