In a judgement of far-reaching consequences, Jammu & Kashmir High Court has ruled that a mere pronouncement of the word ‘Talaq’ three times by the husband is not enough to end a Muslim marriage. Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul observed this in his judgement. The High Court was hearing a case where an estranged wife had initially secured an ex-parte maintenance order in 2009. This was challenged by the husband. The dispute reached the High Court and the matter was remitted back to a trial court in 2013. In February 2018, the trial court ruled in favour of the husband by finding that the parties were no longer married. However, an additional sessions court set aside this order and ordered the man to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs 3,000 to the wife. This was challenged by the man (petitioner) before the High Court in 2018.
