New Delhi: The Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision that permits Muslim men to register multiple marriages under Muslim personal law. The plea, filed by Jai Bhagwan Goyal, President of Rashtravadi Shiv Sena, contested the High Court’s landmark ruling.
The apex court observed that Goyal had not been a party in the original case heard by the Bombay High Court, rendering his petition inadmissible. Following the dismissal, Goyal announced plans to file a review petition before the Bombay High Court and seek inclusion as a party in the case.
The controversy stems from the Bombay High Court’s October 15, 2023, judgment allowing the registration of multiple marriages for Muslim men, aligning with their personal law that permits up to four simultaneous marriages. The case originated from a Muslim man who sought registration of his third marriage to an Algerian woman, solemnised in February 2023.
The Thane Municipal Corporation had denied registration, citing the Maharashtra Marriage Bureau and Registration of Marriages Act, which they claimed does not address multiple marriages. The High Court bench, comprising Justices B.P. Colabawalla and Somasekhar Sundaresan, ruled against the municipal authorities, stating that the Act does not restrict the registration of such marriages.
The judgment reaffirmed the constitutional protection of Muslim personal laws, emphasising the importance of balancing personal laws with state regulations.
