New Delhi, There is a new development in the Triple Talaq Bill, whose fate was hanging in uncertainty. With the General Elections round the corner, the government is in no mood to leave the fate of the BIll hanging. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence after the government failed to pass it through both houses of Parliament. The ordinance would have similar provisions as The Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Act, which was cleared by the Lok Sabha last year. There are two amendments in the ordinance — it provides for conditional bail for the accused, and the FIR can be filed by the victim or a family member of the victim. The ordinance will now be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind for approval, following which it becomes law in the country.
The Triple Talaq Bill covers instant triple talaq delivered in any form whether delivered orally, including telephone or a mobile call, or in writing or through electronic medium like Watsapp or SMS illegal.
The Supreme Court had in a verdict in August last year declared instant triple talaq illegal and unconstitutional.
The bill had faced a stiff resistance in the Rajya Sabha where several Opposition lawmakers argued that it must be sent to a Select Committee for close scrutiny.
In view of the growing Opposition to the proposed legislation, the Centre had even sought the opinion of all state governments on the subject, and, most of them had supported it.
The bill makes instant “triple talaq” a criminal offence and proposes a three-year jail term for a Muslim man who divorces his wife by uttering the word “talaq” thrice.
