Religious Bodies Cannot Act as Courts, Chhattisgarh HC Rules in Triple Talaq Case
Chhattisgarh HC says religious institutions lack judicial powers; hears plea against a 2022 triple talaq order.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has observed that no religious institution can function as a court of law, while hearing a petition challenging a divorce order passed by a Sharia court.
The case involves a 38-year-old Muslim woman from Raipur who approached the High Court seeking to quash an order dated January 18, 2022. The order was issued by the Idara-e-Shariya Islami Court, which had declared that triple talaq, or divorce, had been granted to the petitioner.
The woman's plea argues that the religious body's decision lacks legal standing. During the proceedings, the High Court remarked that religious institutions do not possess the authority to act as judicial forums.
The matter highlights the legal friction between personal religious practices and statutory protections against instant triple talaq. The High Court's observation reinforces the principle that only constitutionally established courts can adjudicate disputes and issue binding orders.
The court is expected to continue hearing the case, with the petitioner seeking formal quashing of the Sharia court's directive.