MASSIVE: Modi government takes Ordinance route to make Triple Talaq a punishable offence after cabinet gives its nod. LIVE UPDATES here

Update at 9:42 PM: President of India Ram Nath Kovind has signed the triple talaq ordinance

Update at 7:35 PM: AIMPLB calls Triple Talaq ordinance an election stunt, 'undemocratic and immoral'

Update at 4:08 PM: We had decided that If this ordinance pass then we will challenge it in Supreme Court: Zafaryab Jilani, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPL)

Update at 4:08 PM: This ordinance is against the Muslim women. This ordinance will not provide justice to the Muslim women. In Islam, marriage is a civil contract and bringing penal provisions in it is wrong: Asaduddin Owaisi on Cabinet approving an ordinance on Triple Talaq

Update at 4:08 PM:  Amit Shah took to Twitter and heaped praises on the Modi government while lashing out at the opposition after Cabinet approved an ordinance on Triple Talaq

Update at 12:48 PM: Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says:

'We have approved the ordinance on Triple Talaq'

'We came to know about 430 Triple Talaq cases, 239 before the judgement and 201 after the judgement' 

'We always tried to have a word with Congress on this issue. I tried to have a word with Ghulam Nabi Azad five times but he refused to take any decision on this'

'Sonia Ji being distinguished women leader did not take any action on this issue and she never supported us due to vote bank politics. I approached them 5-6 times'

'Women of the Muslim community are helpless in our country. We came to know that major cases are coming from Uttar Pradesh. There was an urgency to bring this ordinance'

'Under this ordinance, only the woman (victim) or her blood relatives can register a case'

'Magistrate can appoint a bail but after consultations of the victim'

'Mothers are entitled for maintenance of herself as well as her children from the accused with consultation of the magistrate'

'Appeal to Sonia Ji, Mamata Ji, Mayawati Ji that you should think about humanity and not about vote bank politics'

Update at 12:24 PM: Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to address news briefing shortly 

In a sensational development in the ongoing legislative battle over the Triple Talaq bill, the union cabinet on Wednesday moved to take the ordinance route in the matter, following which the Government of India has approved said ordinance, which would make instant Triple Talaq a criminal offence.

The ordinance route comes as a huge move by the Modi government following two sessions of Parliament proving insufficient for the Triple Talaq bill to be passed in the Rajya Sabha, despite amendments being made in the bill in an effort to build consensus. The bill has already been passed in the Lok Sabha.

The Triple Talaq bill came as a result of the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, holding the practice as unconstitutional. However, following the tabling of the bill, the Opposition protested against some of the punitive measures that those men who give their wives Triple Talaq will face as a result. The Opposition has sought the matter to be referred to a parliamentary committee, which the ruling BJP has called a delaying tactic. The BJP has also called out the Opposition for not protesting the passage of the bill in the lower house but blocking it in the Rajya Sabha.

An ordinance is promulgated by the President based on the recommendation of the government when Parliament isn't in session. It is valid for six months at which point it lapses unless re-promulgated. The fact that the ordinance has been moved is a big signal of intent that the government intends to pass the Triple Talaq bill in Parliament in the Winter Session of Parliament. 

The Congress party, while stating that it was against Triple Talaq, reacted to the move furiously, with party media in-charge Randeep Surjewala saying, "the Modi government doesn't want that the Muslim women get justice. Hence, the suggestions that we had given, that you attach the man's assets and properties, rather than send him to jail, was rejected as the government wants to use it as a political football."