NEW DELHI: Registering its strong opposition to the practice of instant divorce as well as polygamy practised by Muslim men, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has told the Supreme Court that triple talaq was unconstitutional and had ruined the lives of many women.“The commission is partaking of a large number of cases relating to women who have been at the receiving end of the practice of unilateral talaq. Triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat), nikah halala and polygamy are unconstitutional because they compromise the rights of Muslim women (or women who marry into Muslim community) to their disadvantage, which is detrimental to them and their children,” the NCW said.In its affidavit filed on Saturday in response to a bunch of petitions moved in the apex court by several women, the NCW said, “These practices –– triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy –– should be strictly prohibited. NCW is supporting the stand of the Union government and is adapting the affidavit filed by it.”The Centre had filed its affidavit in the SC on October 7 and had requested the court to abolish ‘triple talaq’ and polygamy, terming them as unconstitutional customs hurting gender equality and women’s dignity. The Centre had, however, refrained from linking its stand on triple talaq with the demand for Uniform Civil Code ( UCC ).It had said that “gender equality and the dignity of women are non-negotiable, overarching constitutional values and can brook no compromise”. Liberally throwing in arguments on secular practices, the Centre said one section of women in society could never be worse off than others.It said even Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Iran had reformed their laws and had given equal rights to women in matrimony.“In considering the issue of validity of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy which mainly concerns the issue of gender justice and overriding principle of nondiscrimination, dignity and equality, any plea pertaining to Uniform Civil Code is not relevant,” it had said.“Women must be equal participants in the development and advancement of the world’s largest democracy and any practice (triple talaq and polygamy) which denudes the status of a citizen of India merely by virtue of the religion she happens to profess, is an impediment to that larger goal,” the Modi government had said.The Centre said triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy could not be regarded as essential or integral part of religion and would not be included under the ambit of Article 25 of the Constitution that guarantees a citizen the right to practice and profess a religion of his choice.The Centre had picked on the affidavit filed by All India Muslim Personal Law Board , that had defended the practices as religion-sanctioned customs even while terming them undesirable.“No undesirable practice can be elevated to the status of an essential religious practice,” the Centre said.