The Central government has started collecting data regarding the Islamic practices of polygamy and Nikah Halala, New Indian Express has reported. The validity of both these practices has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

The report claims that the central government will solidify its stance with regards to these practices after it receives the statistics about their prevalence. The centre has till now indicated that it opposes these acts.

Polygamy is a practice under which a Muslim man is allowed to have four wives. The controversial practice of Nikah Halala states that for a divorced couple to remarry, the woman has to first marry and consummate her wedding before eventually separating.

Despite the controversial nature of Nikah Halala, it has received firm support from the Muslim Personal Law Board, which has called the practice Quranic and legitimate.

It has been claimed that the government is also in the process of creating a list of countries which have effectively banned polygamy. It thus has been speculated that the government would argue before the Supreme Court that, many nations including Muslim dominated ones have either prohibited or regulated polygamy.

Some of the Muslim dominated countries which have taken steps against polygamy include - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Iran.