The Supreme Court of India declared the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) unconstitutional in:

On 22 August 2017, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in the Shayara Bano v. Union of India case, declared the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) unconstitutional by a 3 to 2 majority.

What instant triple talaq means:

• It was a practice under which a Muslim man could divorce his wife immediately by saying "talaq" three times at once, in any form, including by letter, phone or message.
• The wife had no say in the matter.

The case:

• Shayara Bano, a woman from Uttarakhand, challenged the practice after her husband divorced her by instant triple talaq.
• Other petitions were filed by women and organisations, and the cases were heard together.

The judgment:

The majority held that instant triple talaq is arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constitution.

Justices R.F. Nariman, U.U. Lalit and Kurian Joseph formed the majority.

Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer dissented, but they suggested that Parliament should make a law on the issue.

The bench had judges from five different religious communities, which was noted as significant.

The law that followed:

• Parliament later passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act.
• It made the pronouncement of instant triple talaq a criminal offence, punishable with imprisonment of up to three years.
• The law also provides for maintenance for the wife and children.

Other forms of talaq:

The judgment did not affect other forms of talaq, such as talaq-e-hasan, which is pronounced over a period of time.

Issues raised by the case:

• The case raised questions about gender justice, personal laws and the relationship between religion and the Constitution.
• It also revived discussion about a Uniform Civil Code, which Article 44, a Directive Principle, asks the State to secure.

Other countries:

Many Muslim-majority countries, such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, had already banned or regulated instant triple talaq.

Why not the other options?

• ✗2015, 2018 and 2019 do not match the year of the judgment.