Indian Supreme Court strikes down instant triple talaq as arbitrary and unconstitutional
I hope the fact that the five judges presiding over the triple talaq verdict were from five faiths, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism, was something that happened inadvertently, just like my favorite and only secular bar in India, at Agra, owned by a Sikh, had, by chance, a Hindu, Muslim and Christian bartender for several years. One would hate to think that such sickular and noble happenings were deliberately planned, because it would then imply that five Hindu or Muslim judges in a proud democratic nation could not be trusted with the triple talaq verdict, and that three Christian or Sikh bartenders could also not be trusted to mix the perfect Bloody Mary.
In both instances the Sikh showed the lead, in that, the chief justice of India is a Sikh, and the gentleman in Agra who owns the hotel in which the bar is situated is also a Sikh. And both of them have a responsibility, that is, to give you the pure and undiluted truth. One in a elegant verdict, and the other in a elegant and sparkling glass.
Although a lot of people on social media thought the Chief Justice of India was pro government and would roll over, I was happy to hear that he abstained, as NDTV says, “Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice Abdul Nazeer differed and said while triple talaq “may be sinful”, the court can’t interfere in personal laws which have the status of fundamental right under the constitution. They were of the view that parliament should bring a law to end the practice.”
I’m happy to also report that that the Sikh gentleman who owns my favourite bar in Agra also believes that while drinking alcohol “may be sinful”, owners of hotels can’t interfere in the personal choices of their guests, especially those which have the status of fundamental rights under the constitution. After all, Uttar Pradesh is not yet Bihar, although the chief minister of Bihar is gradually becoming an organ grinder’s monkey. And, although the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh is from the far right, and a Yogi for good measure, he too has stayed away from interfering in the personal right of a citizen to drink, even drink himself to death if it so pleases him.
I would love to go into other similarities and dissimilarities between the secular Supreme Court and my favourite secular bar, but for the time being all that is needed is for me to say “Cheers” to the seven Muslim women who had been divorced through triple talaq who petitioned the court to declare the practise illegal in India. Cheers, ladies