AP, Telangana minorities panel chief to implead in triple talaq case in SC

Hyderabad: Chairman of State Minorities Commission that serves Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Abid Rasool Khan, who had come out openly against the triple talaq issue, on Friday said he would implead in the ongoing case before the Supreme Court to explain the "happenings" in the community so as to protect the interest of Muslim women.

"I have personally taken a decision to implead (myself) before the Supreme Court in the ongoing case," Khan, who had last month said the Muslim community at present has a huge social problem where lakhs of women all over the country are suffering because their men divorced them by pronouncing talaq thrice, told PTI.

"The idea of impleading is not to question the authority of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)," he said.

According to him, most of cases filed by Muslim women before the Supreme Court or any other court of law relate to economic problems and physical abuse.

"The women who are approaching the Supreme Court or the (Minorities) Commission or any other court of law including family courts are not questioning the Islamic way of talaq.

They are questioning the misuse and in the way it leads to economic and physical distress," Khan said.

"We are saying that the Supreme Court in this particular case can give recommendations to the government to pass some rules which will in turn mitigate these types of problems," he said.

"Basically, the rules should be on the lines of simple marriage as shown in Islam, where women are not burdened".

He said he would implead in his individual capacity but noted that as the Commission's Chairman, he is well-versed in happenings in the community and also concerned about it.

"I would like to explain to the Supreme Court why these things are happening and in what way the apex court can intervene and give its recommendations in the interest of the society as well as the community; in what way they can advise the AIMPLB to act without conflict with the religion or the tenets of the religion," Khan said.

He would ask the court to consider his version also because it is based on "facts and happenings" in the country.

Khan said he has gone through the petitions of the AIMPLB and others who impleaded, adding, their stand is "very religious and based on scriptures".