SC seeks Centre's reply on plea to ban polygamy among Muslims

The petition also seeks compulsory registration of Muslim marriages and divorces, citing findings from a 2025 women's rights study.

Published on: Aug 1, 2026, 13:16:37 IST

By Utkarsh Anand

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The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Centre’s response on a fresh petition seeking a law to prohibit polygamy among Muslims, declare such marriages void from the outset and make the practice punishable under the BNS, while directing that the matter be tagged with a batch of long-pending petitions awaiting consideration by a constitution bench.

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Centre's response on a petition seeking to prohibit polygamy among Muslims (Shrikant Singh)

Also read: Bhojshala row: SC to hear Muslim side's plea over location of alternative namaz site Thursday

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice to the Centre on the plea by women’s rights activists Zakia Soman and Noorjehan Safia Niaz, journalist and civil rights activist Javed Anand, and two others. The bench ordered that the matter be tagged with the pending batch of cases challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy and nikah halala under Muslim personal law. Those were last heard in August 2022.

The petitioners also sought compulsory registration of all Muslim marriages and divorces, citing instances of secret second marriages documented in a 2025 study by the Bharatiya Mahila Andolan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utkarsh Anand
Utkarsh Anand is the National Legal Editor at Hindustan Times, where he leads the newspaper's coverage of the Supreme Court, constitutional law, the judiciary and the Union law ministry. He joined Hindustan Times in 2020 after stints at Press Trust of India (PTI), The Indian Express and CNN-News18, and has over two decades of experience reporting on law, governance and public policy. His work has focussed on some of India's most consequential constitutional and legal developments, including the Supreme Court's judgments on Article 370, marriage equality, decriminalisation of homosexuality, the Babri Masjid dispute, electoral reforms and judicial appointments. He specialises in making complex legal proceedings and judgments accessible to readers while examining their wider social and political impact. Beyond daily reportage, Utkarsh has led investigative projects and enterprise reporting that have shaped public debate and prompted institutional responses. His work has received several journalism awards, including the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award. As National Legal Editor, he has also played a key role in expanding Hindustan Times' legal journalism footprint, mentoring reporters and strengthening coverage across platforms. A Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme Fellow, Utkarsh regularly writes analyses on the judiciary and constitutional issues, and his reporting is widely followed by lawyers, judges, policymakers, academics and readers seeking clarity on India's evolving legal landscape.Read More

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