Haridwar man booked for triple talaq over dowry, sparks row as case not filed under Uniform Civil Code

HARIDWAR: Police in Haridwar have booked a man for allegedly pronouncing triple talaq to his wife over dowry demands in the Buggawala area, but the case has triggered controversy after it was not registered under the state’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Sources said to news agency PTI the police are currently facing difficulties in invoking UCC provisions in some cases due to pending software updates in the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), affecting registration under the new law. Legal experts maintain that the offence is cognisable and should have been registered under Section 32 of the UCC. The complainant, Shaheen, a resident of Bandarjud village, accused her husband Danish and his family of dowry harassment, pronouncing triple talaq, and pressuring her to undergo halala for remarriage. In her complaint, she said the harassment began within days of their marriage around two-and-a-half years ago, involving both physical and mental abuse linked to dowry demands. When the situation worsened, she informed her parents. However, when her family approached her husband to resolve the dispute, he allegedly pronounced triple talaq and forced her out of the house. She further alleged that during subsequent settlement talks, she was asked to undergo halala as a precondition for remarriage, prompting her to approach the police. Haridwar Rural SP Shekhar Chand Suyal said that based on the complaint filed on April 4, police registered a case under provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, and launched an investigation. Responding to questions on the absence of UCC provisions, Suyal said technical issues with the CCTNS portal sometimes prevent immediate registration under the law, adding that relevant sections would be invoked if found applicable during the probe. The UCC came into force in Uttarakhand in January last year, but legal experts have expressed concern over its non-application in serious cases even after more than a year of implementation. Advocate Vasu Garg said the UCC abolishes practices such as triple talaq and halala, and permits remarriage without conditions. He noted that forcing a woman to comply with such practices could attract penalties under Section 32, including fine, imprisonment, or both. He added that while the state government has projected the UCC as a landmark reform, gaps in enforcement on the ground remain a concern.(With PTI inputs)