Cabinet okays Bill banning triple talaq

Girja Shankar Kaura

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15

In a move that would come as a major relief for Muslim women, the government today approved the introduction of a Bill banning triple talaq.

The decision to introduce the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, in the current session of Parliament was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Addressing mediapersons, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Bill was designed to provide a shield to Muslim women.

The Supreme Court, in August, had termed the practice of instant talaq (divorce) as “unconstitutional”.

The apex court (3:2 majority) ruled that the practice of divorce through triple talaq among Muslims was “void”, “illegal” and “unconstitutional”. After the Supreme Court verdict, PM Modi set up a group of ministers comprising Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to work out modalities.

Once the law is made to make triple talaq an offence, the victims will have the option of approaching the police or taking legal recourse to get their grievances redressed and for action against the husband.

Last month, the Central Government had written to all states seeking their comments on the draft Bill. The proposed Bill will apply to all cases of instant triple talaq across the country, except Jammu and Kashmir.

What it says...

• A husband resorting to instant triple talaq can be jailed for up to three years, besides being fined
• The harassed woman will be eligible for subsistence allowance (for herself and dependent children), besides custodial rights of minor children
• The Bill will apply to all cases of instant triple talaq across the country, except Jammu and Kashmir