Question

Shah Bano case was related to

• A. Dowry demand
• B. Harassment at work place
• C. Maintenance of divorced Muslim women
• D. Triple divorce of Muslim Women

Hint:

Distinguish between the Shah Bano case (1985) and the Shayara Bano case (2017). Shah Bano dealt with post-divorce maintenance under CrPC, while Shayara Bano dealt with the constitutional validity of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the subject matter of the famous "Shah Bano case." This is a landmark case in Indian legal history that sparked a significant political and legal controversy.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The case of Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985) was a Supreme Court judgment that dealt with the issue of maintenance for a divorced Muslim woman. Shah Bano, a 62-year-old Muslim woman, was divorced by her husband and subsequently filed a petition for maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The Supreme Court ruled in her favor, holding that Section 125, being a secular provision, applies to all citizens irrespective of their religion, and that she was entitled to maintenance from her former husband.
The judgment was highly controversial and led to the enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, by the Parliament, which was seen by many as a move to nullify the Supreme Court's verdict.
- Option (D) is related, but the core issue was maintenance post-divorce, not the validity of triple divorce itself (which was addressed later in the Shayara Bano case).

Step 4: Final Answer:
The Shah Bano case was related to the maintenance of divorced Muslim women.