The practice of ‘triple talaq’ is “fatal for the social institution of marriage” and “makes Muslim women’s condition very pathetic”, the government argued Monday in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court.

The government said the top court’s setting aside of the practice – that had been held valid among certain Muslim communities – in 2017 had “not worked as a sufficient deterrent in bringing down the number of divorces by this practice” among members of those communities.

“Victims of ‘triple talaq’ have no option but to approach the police… and the police were helpless as no action could be taken against husbands in the absence of punitive provisions in the law. In order to prevent (this) there was an urgent need for stringent (legal) provisions,” the government said.

The government’s affidavit was in response to a petition arguing that since the Supreme Court had invalidated the practice of ‘triple talaq’ there is no need to criminalise the same.

The original affidavit was filed earlier this month by the Samastha Kerala Jamiathul Ulema, which describes itself as “an association of eminent Sunni scholars”. Among other points, the petitioner called the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, is unconstitutional.

The petitioners argued that the Act violates fundamental rights, including those that guarantee Indian citizens equality before law and prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion.

In a detailed response made public this morning the government firmly dismissed the petitioners’ claims, arguing that the practice of ‘triple talaq’ “violates fundamental rights and rights of equality guaranteed to women under the Constitution”.

A second-year BCom student has been arrested by Kolkata Police for a provocative social media post that incited violence against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

The accused, Kirti Sharma, who operated under the handle “kirtisocial” on Instagram, is accused of encouraging others to assassinate the Chief Minister in a manner reminiscent of the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The post, which read, “Shoot Mamata Banerjee like Indira Gandhi. If you can’t do it, I wouldn’t disappoint,” quickly gained attention after several Trinamool Congress supporters flagged it to the authorities. The police also alleged that the accused disclosed the identity and photograph of the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor who was found brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

The Kolkata Police released a statement regarding the incident, saying, “A complaint was received regarding the accused person, having the Instagram ID ‘kirtisocial,’ who uploaded three Instagram stories related to the recent incident at RG Kar Hospital. The posts disclosed the picture and identity of the victim, which is highly offensive in nature. Additionally, the accused shared two stories containing offensive comments and life threats against the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal. These comments are provocative and may create social unrest and promote hatred among communities.”

The Kolkata Police has cracked down heavily on social media posts related to the rape-murder incident. Summons were issued to Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray after he publicly demanded that the CBI interrogate the Kolkata police commissioner. The police also issued summonses to former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and two prominent doctors for allegedly spreading rumours and disclosing the identity of the victim.
 

The father of the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor, who was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has said that his daughter kept a personal diary and he has a torn page from it.

“She used to keep the diary in her bag,” her father told NDTV, explaining how they would sometimes tease her about reading it. “But why would we read the personal diary of a grown woman? When we used to talk to her after she returned, she always shared whatever was bothering her – from work to studies to everything.”

“I have a picture of a torn piece from her diary,” he said, refusing to reveal more. “The CBI has requested to refrain from discussing the contents publicly.”

READ | “Trusted Mamata Banerjee But…”: Father Of Murdered Doctor To NDTV

The father’s anguish was palpable as he reflected on the circumstances of his daughter’s death. “The place where I sent my daughter to make a living and serve the people, they did not protect her. It is very sad,” he said.

Nationwide Protests 

The incident has sparked nationwide protests, with junior doctors in West Bengal, Delhi, and other states taking to the streets, demanding justice for their colleague. In Kolkata, the situation remains tense. The Supreme Court has taken up the case on its own and is set to hear the matter on August 20.

Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has been questioned by the CBI for three consecutive days. The agency is probing his phone calls made before and after the incident, hoping to piece together the events leading to the victim’s death.

READ | “She Was Only Draped In Bedsheet”: Father Of Kolkata Rape-Murder Victim

The Kolkata Police summoned Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray after he publicly demanded that the CBI interrogate the Kolkata police commissioner. The police also issued summonses to former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and two prominent doctors for allegedly spreading rumours and disclosing the identity of the victim.

Family Seeks Justice 

The victim’s family has accused the West Bengal government of attempting to stifle public outcry, despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protests against the incident.

Taking a dig at the Bengal Chief Minister, the father of the victim said that he has lost faith in the Trinamool leader. 

“Early on, I had full faith in her, but now, no. She is asking for justice, but what is she saying that for? She can take charge of that; she is doing nothing,” he said. 

READ | “Went To Serve People, They Did Not Protect Her”: Murdered Doctor’s Father

The victim’s mother, standing next to her husband, slammed the much-touted welfare schemes introduced by Ms Banerjee’s administration, which she dismissed as hollow promises. The mother used the goddess Lakshmi as a metaphor to question the schemes aimed at making the lives of women easier. 

“All the schemes by Mamata Banerjee – the  Kanyashree scheme, the Lakshmi scheme – all pseudo. Whoever wants to avail of these schemes, before availing them, kindly see if your Lakshmi at home is safe at all,” she said. 

Government’s Response 

In response to the mounting pressure, the West Bengal government has announced a series of measures to ensure the safety of women in workplaces, particularly in state-run hospitals. These include designated retiring rooms and CCTV-monitored ‘safe zones’ to protect those working night shifts.

Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Banerjee, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, announced the measures, but the ongoing protests suggest that healthcare workers are not satisfied with the government’s response. Over 70 Padma awardee doctors have also written to the Prime Minister, demanding a special law to address violence against healthcare personnel.