Bhadrak (Orissa): The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Orissa Government to provide police protection to a Muslim couple who were forced to separate after local clerics issued a Fatwa against them living together.
Nazma Biwi's husband had pronounced triple talaq in an inebriated condition in 2004.
However, he later realised his mistake, and decided that he wanted to live with his wife and three children.
However, However, local clerics at Bhadrak issued a Fatwa against the couple saying that they could not live together even if they wanted to as they were divorced.
Thereafter the couple was forced to live separately by the community.
Nazma then approached the High Court against the Fatwa and had sought police protection from her community men
who were allegedly harassing her and her husband.
In a ruling on Friday, a Supreme Court Bench comprising of Justice Ruma Pal, Justice C K Thakker and Justice Markandey Katju said that, "No one can force them to live separately. This is a secular country. All communities - Hindus or Muslims - should behave in civilised manner."
The observation came after the Nazma's lawyer complained that the couple continue to be ostracised by the
Muslim community at Bhadrak.
Orissa Government lawyer, Shibo Shanker Mishra sought two weeks to file a reply to Nazma's petition and the court obliged.
The incident had created a nation-wide controversy with various women organisations and civil society groups taking up cudgels on behalf of the harassed couple.
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