Why do Muslims allow multiple marriages? The Supreme Court will form a constitutional bench to investigate

• March 23, 2023

Why should Muslims be allowed to have multiple marriages? An appeal was filed in the Supreme Court objecting to this. On the basis of that application, the Supreme Court said on Thursday that a constitutional bench would be constituted at the right time to look into the objections.

The petition was filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay in a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala.

Regarding the petition, the Chief Justice said, "I will form a constitutional bench on this at the right time." The petition pointed out that while the practice of polygamy is prohibited in other religions, the practice cannot be allowed in a particular religious community. A request has been made to declare this practice unconstitutional. Besides, such practice is also mentioned as oppression of women in the petition. According to Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code, if a married person enters into a second marriage with his or her spouse, the marriage is annulled. Along with that, there is a provision of imprisonment and fine as punishment. This clause does not apply to Muslims. Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 allows Muslim men to have multiple marriages. The petition sought to declare the clause unconstitutional.

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