Odisha Woman Files Police Complaint After Hubby Pronounces ‘Talaq’ Over Phone

Kendrapara: A month after Narendra Modi government passed an ordinance criminalising triple talaq, a woman lodged a complaint at Pattamundai police station in Kendrapara district, alleging that her husband gave her instant divorcee over phone.

The 24-year-old woman, Taksima Khatun, said her husband S K Rija Ahmed called her on October 23 and uttered ‘talaq’ thrice, pronouncing divorce.

According to the FIR, she married Rija of Kalapahada village under Aul police limits on November 28 last year. Rija works as a carpenter in Chandigarh, Punjab.

During their marriage, her family had given Rs 1 lakh rupees, 80 grams of gold ornaments and several household furniture were given to Rija’s family as dowry. However, he allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh more after six months.

When her parents expressed their inability to pay the money, Rija started assaulting her, the FIR added.

Taksima further said she tried to reach him after he divorced her on phone, but in vain.

IIC Pattamundai police station, Pramod Mallick said that a case has been registered and investigation is underway.

In August 2017, the Supreme court banned triple talaq and on December 28, Lok Sabha passed a bill that criminalised triple talaq which, however, could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha.

The Centre passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance 2018 to make the practice of instant triple talaq a punishable offence. Any Muslim man found guilty shall be sent to jail for three years along with a hefty fine.