Nikah Halala victim Shabnam Rani granted special security by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered tight security arrangements for the Anti-triple talaq and Nikah Halala-activist Shabnam Rani, who reportedly faced an acid attack at Uttar Pradesh Bulandshahr on September 13.

"Supreme Court orders to provide safety and security to acid attack victim Shabnam," the news agency ANI reported. During its September 17 proceedings, the Supreme Court said SSP Bulandshahr would be held liable for her safety and security.

Furthermore, the Yogi Adityanath government has been asked to ensure Rani's safety whenever she steps outside the home. The apex court also advised the Nikah Halala victim to approach the police in case she travels outside Uttar Pradesh.

Supreme Court orders to provide safety and security to acid attack victim Shabnam. Court says, SSP Bulandshahr would be held liable for her safety and security. Shabnam is one of the petitioners in the Nikah-Halala and Polygamy case before the Supreme Court

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 17, 2018

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The SC order came after numerous petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the prevalent practices of Nikah Halala and polygamy among Muslims saying it was violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwikar and D Y Chandrachud considered the plea of Shabnam Rani, who was attacked allegedly by her brother-in-law and has been hospitalised. She has also sought better health care.

On September 14, the court asked advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, counsel for Rani, to submit a copy of the petition to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government.

While polygamy allows a Muslim man to have four wives, ‘Nikah Halala’ deals with the process in which a Muslim woman, who wants to re-marry her husband after divorce, has to first marry another person and get a divorce from the second person after the consummation.

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In her plea against Nikah Halala and polygamy, Rani had alleged that her husband divorced giving her Triple Talaq and forced to perform Nikah Hala with her brother-in-law.

(With inputs from agencies)