“A woman may have several other obligations too,” the court said.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said subjugation of women to their husbands won’t pass the test of constitutionality, News18 reported.

Senior Advocate AM Singhvi had, during an earlier hearing, demanded the matter be referred to a constitutional bench, for it involved the issue of an essential practice in the religion. He had also said that the FGM was a customary practice and therefore the court shouldn't intervene in the area.

Attorney General of India, KK Venugopal, said the Centre supported the ban, adding that the practice violates the fundamental rights of women, CNN-News18 reported.