Indian Supreme Court begins formal hearing into 'triple talaq'

A verdict in the case is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks

The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday began formal hearing into a slew of petitions challenging 'triple talaq,' saying it would examine if the practice was fundamental to Islam, the BBC reported.

India is one of the few countries where a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing the word talaq three times. Activists, however, have termed the practice of saying the words at once discriminatory.

While Muslim groups see proceedings of the court an intervention in their religious matter, the matter has the backing of Indian premier Narendra Modi.

The issue of sensitive nature is being heard by a five-judge belonging to different faiths i.e. a Hindu, a Sikh, a Christian, a Zoroastrian and one Muslim.

To examine the issue, the bench has combined several petitions from Muslim women and rights groups into one.

All sides involved in the case have been allowed three days to furnish their arguments, with the hearing set to end by May 19. A verdict in the case is expected in the coming weeks.

Triple talaq divorce is legal under the Indian constitution, which allows the country's 1.2 billion citizens to be governed by their own religious laws when it comes to marriage, divorce and property inheritance.