Panchayat imposes Rs 2 lakh fine on man for giving triple talaq

While the 'ulemas' (religious leaders) continue to dilly-dally on taking a tough stand on the issue, a panchayat in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, about 450 kilometres from here, imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on a man for giving triple talaq. 

The panchayat also made the man pay the amount of 'mahr' (mandatory payment to the bride by groom at the time of marriage), which was RS 60 thousand, to the bride.
 
According to the reports, a man at Musapur village had given divorce to his wife through the triple talaq a couple of days back. Their marriage had been solemnised barely ten days back.
 
The parents of the woman approached the panchayat seeking justice for her. On Sunday, the members of the panchayat, who were drawn from over 50 villages, discussed the matter at a meeting held at a 'madarsa'.
 
After several hours of deliberations, the panchayat members unanimously decided to punish the man and imposed a fine of Rs. two lakh besides ordering him to pay the amount of 'mahr', reports said. All the items given to the man as gift at the time of marriage were also returned to the woman's family.
 
Liyaquat Hussain, a senior member of the panchayat said that triple talaq was not acceptable. ''We feel that this practice should be abolished...we will punish any one, who resorts to triple talaq....the amount of fine will be decided keeping in mind the financial condition of the man,'' he said.
 
The panchayat's decision comes amid a raging debate on triple talaq. The matter is currently pending before the supreme court. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), an apex organisation of the Muslims in the country, has rejected demands to abolish the practice and said that it was in accordance with the 'shariat' (Islamic Law).
 
Hussain said that the panchayat of the 'turk' community had also issued a set of guidelines to be followed by all the members. They included education for the girls, a complete ban on child marriages and lavish spending during social functions.