Chief Justice of India Justice JS Khehar has said that the Supreme Court is ready to give up the summer vacation to hear the issue of triple talaq.

Justice Khehar called the matter as "issue of grave importance". The Supreme Court is ready to sit even on Saturdays and Sundays to hear the matter, Justice Khehar today said.

Justice Khehar put the ball in the Modi government's court saying, "It is for the Centre to decide if they can cooperate."

TRIPLE TALAQ: WHAT HAPPENED IN SUPREME COURT

CJI Khehar insisted that for resolving key matters early everyone needed to work together.

"Whenever we say vacations, everyone wants it in the beginning so that they can go away later in the vacation. I am ready to work, I worked during the last two vacations, I am ready to do that even now," said CJI Khehar.

Responding to Justice Khehar's suggestion, Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi expressed difficulty in arguing the matter citing ongoing hearing by two other constitutional benches during the summer vacation.

A visibly irked CJI retorted saying, "If we don't hear the matter now, it will be pending for years, if you (Centre) do not want to co operate let us know. But then don't come blaming us that the matter has been pending for so long."

The Supreme Court is hearing two other cases in summer vacations. One case is pertaining to the privacy issue with WhatsApp and the second about the citizenship issue in Assam pertaining to illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

TRIPLE TALAQ IN SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court will begin hearing the triple talaq case on May 11. All the parties have to file their replies within two weeks on the matter in the apex court.

The triple talaq matter reached the Supreme Court through a plea filed by Saira Bano who challenged the three rules related to Niqah (wedding). These rules are: Talaq-e-Bidat, Niqah Halala and a man's right to have four wives.

Responding to the Supreme Court notice on the matter the Centre had, last year, said, "The issue of validity of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy needs to be considered in the light of principles of gender justice and the overriding principle of non-discrimination, dignity and equality."

Earlier this week, the All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPLB) urged the Supreme Court not to hear the matter of triple talaq as it comes under the personal laws.

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