HC issues notice to Punjab in triple talaq case

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 7

In, perhaps, the first case here after the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, criminalising triple talaq came into force, a Muslim woman has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging non-registration of an FIR against her husband for the offence.

Taking up the petition through videoconferencing, the High Court today put the State of Punjab and other respondents on notice after taking note of the allegations that the husband gave ‘triple talaq’ on WhatsApp, which was illegal and an offence under Act. Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi also fixed the case for further hearing on March 5.

Her counsel Ferry Sofat submitted that the husband on June 20, last year, sent three messages of “talaq, talaq, talaq” to the petitioner and also forwarded photographs with his new wife, along with the marriage certificate.

Subsequently, the petitioner’s father forwarded a complaint regarding the offence under the Act to the Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police. Her daughter too filed a representation before the Director-General of Police. But action was not taken. Sofat added the husband was “very influential” having good links with the police authorities, anti-social elements and politicians.