Why is the Supreme Court examining polygamy again? | Explained
What are the petitioners seeking? What has the court ruled on polygamy before?
The Supreme Court has once again taken up the examination of polygamy in India, following a petition filed by five activists. The petition questioned the constitutional validity of polygamy and sought the Centre's response on the matter. The Centre was asked to propose legislative measures to abolish the practice for all citizens, regardless of their religion.
The petitioners argued for treating polygamy as a criminal offense under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which currently applies to non-Muslims and mandates a punishment of up to seven years for committing bigamy. Furthermore, the activists sought the annulment of exemptions under Muslim Personal Law, which currently permits polygamy for Muslim men.
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