A Woman's Right to End a Story

The ruling makes it clear: a Muslim woman does not need her husband's permission to walk away.

- Sanjeev Sirohi

In a courtroom in Telangana, a question that has trapped many women in years of uncertainty was finally answered with clarity: can a Muslim woman walk away from her marriage without her husband’s consent? The Telangana High Court said yes, she can.

In a powerful ruling, the court upheld that a Muslim woman has an absolute right to end her marriage through khula — a right that stands, with or without her husband's consent. The judgment has been welcomed as a significant affirmation of women's rights under Muslim personal law.

The case began when a Muslim man went to court after his wife secured a khula divorce through the Sada-E-Haq Sharai Council, an organization that helps settle marital disputes. The man wanted the Family Court to declare the divorce invalid. But the court dismissed his petition. He appealed to the High Court, hoping for a different answer.