Govt introduces fresh Bill on triple talaq issue

New Delhi: The Government on Monday introduced a fresh Bill in the Lok Sabha to make the practice of tripe talaq among Muslims a penal offence. The Bill seeks to replace an ordinance issued in September.

Under this law, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

The government can re-promulgate the ordinance if the bill fails to get through Parliament.

This fresh bill will supercede an earlier bill passed in the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha, which was approved by the Lower House. But amid opposition by some parties in the Upper House, the government had cleared some amendments, including introduction of a provision of bail, to make it more acceptable.

Despite the Supreme Court striking down the practice of talaq-e-biddat (instant triple talaq) as unconstitutional, men were divorcing their wives on flimsy grounds and even via Whatsapp, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said while introducing the Bill.

Opposing the Bill, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor said divorce cannot be made a penal offence and its provisions were against basic principles of the Constitution.

But Prasad replied that said “improvements” have been made in the bill and the law was essential to help Muslim women facing the problem of instant triple talaq.

While the proposed law makes it a “non-bailable” offence, an accused can approach a magistrate even before trial to seek bail.