Just after 10 days of the marriage, an NRI left for Dubai, an NRI texted his wife ‘Triple Talaq’, implying that he is divorcing her.
A 27 year old guy from Vaikom in Kottayam, married a girl, who is a college student in Kerala. The girl’s mother offered Rs. 10 lakhs dowry and 80 sovereigns of gold to the guy. But within 10 days of marriage, he left for Dubai and three weeks later, he texted his wife ‘triple talaq’ over Whatsapp.
The girl then approached the police and lodged a complaint in the women's commission's adalat in Pala, Kottayam. Prameela Devi, a member in the commission, said, “The guy said that, the woman is an apple and he already tasted it. So he is not willing to come to her anymore.”
Upon questioning the validity of the 'WhatsApp talaq', the commission ordered non-resident Keralites' department, to inquire about the guy. In the next adalat, the commission even ordered to present the guy’s parents. .
Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, An NGO conducted a study across the 10 states, which showed that women have unequivocally voiced their dissent against the discriminatory practice of triple talaq, with 92.1% seeking its ban.
The new media platforms like Skype, text messages, email and Whatsapp, through which the oral talaqs are being delivered, is causing worry in the community.
Validity of divorce through Whatsapp
When the validity of Talaq is to be discussed, a member of Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama said that, the talaq is valid. However the divorce will be granted, after the discussions are held with the guy, girl and their family members. If the husband is trong about his decision, then the divorce will be sanctioned, said Sayyed Attakoya Thangal, the district president of the Ulama.
If this is the case with one member, another member in the same organization named Kottumala T M Bappu Musaliyar, who is also the chairman of organization, says that, the talaq message through Whatsapp is not valid, as it is not done face to face.
Talaq can be done only under unavoidable circumstances and conditions. Mandatory steps for talaq cannot be followed in WhatsApp.
If the oral Talaq gets valid, then it would lead towards encouraging of more NRI crimes like these in the marriages, which are already, which are already many. So hope the Oral Talaqs gets invalid, supporting the women lives in the country.
By Phani Ch
