Triple Talaq bill passed in LS; Law minister says it's about dignity of Muslim women

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 has been passed in the Lok Sabha. The bill seeks to bring justice to Muslim women and ban the practice of instant triple talaq. After the day-long discussion the bill was passed.  

Speaking in the house before moving the resolution, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the triple talaq bill, which seeks imprisonment for Muslim men accused of instant divorce, is not about politics but empowerment and justice for women and should be passed unanimously.

Besides protecting Muslim women from instant triple talaq, the bill penalises the husband who utters  instant triple talaq. Since January 2017, 417 cases of instant triple talaq have been reported. During the discussion, the bill was strongly supported by the BJP, while the opposition opposed the Bill in its present form. 

MPs from the opposition demanded that the bill be sent to Joint Select Committee.

Government says the Bil will ensure equal rights and gender equality. It also protects the fundamental rights of married muslim women.

In the 2017 Bill instant triple talaq was made a non-bailable offence. This bill provides for bail which can be granted by a magistrate only after listening to the wife. The FIR lodged after the practice of instant triple talaq, will be a cognizable offence only if it is registered by the wife or any of her close relatives. Another amendment allows the wife to drop the case if the couple reaches a compromise.

The Supreme Court has already declared instant triple talaq as 'unconstitutional and illegal.' It has asked govt to consider bringing in a law to prevent the practice. The 2017 bill was passed earlier in the Lok Sabha but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. The government introduced an ordinance to make the practice an offence. The Muslim Marriage (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance 2018 was imposed on September 19, 2018. In the winter session of Parliament, the government has brought a new amended law for passage. Now that it is passed in Lok Sabha, the challenge ahead is to get the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha, a hurdle it did not clear last time round. 

PASSAGE OF ANTI-TRIPLE TALAQ BILL HAILED

Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the triple talaq bill is not about politics but empowerment and justice for women and should be passed unanimously.

Information and Broadcasting minister Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore welcomed the historic passage of the Anti-Triple Talaq Bill and said that the passing of the bill by Lok Sabha is a momentous occasion for the dignity and rights of Indian Muslim women.

Meanwhile, the opposition demanded that the bill be sent to Joint Select Committee.

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