Published 20:34 IST, July 30th 2019
Triple Talaq Bill passed: President Kovind calls it a 'milestone in quest of gender justice', lauds the Parliament
Hailing the passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in the parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind, on Tuesday, has called it a milestone in the quest for gender justice
Hailing the passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in the parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind, on Tuesday, has called it a milestone in the quest for gender justice.
Rajya Sabha passes Triple Talaq Bill
Earlier in the day, in a historic move, the Muslim Woman (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 or the contentious Triple Talaq Bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha by 99-84 votes. Despite the demand of Opposition parties, the Rajya Sabha rejected the motion to send Triple Talaq Bill to a select panel by 100-84 votes.
The Law Minister moved the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday for passage after the Lok Sabha passed the Bill last week for the second time. Prior to that, the Bill had been passed in the Lok Sabha on December 2017, during the first tenure of the Modi government.
The Bill which makes the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) a penal offence, was opposed by opposition parties which claimed that jail term for the husband for divorcing his wife was legally untenable. The government had promulgated the ordinance on triple talaq twice.
What is the Triple Talaq Bill?
Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, divorcing through instant Triple Talaq will be illegal, void and would attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
While the bill makes triple talaq a "non-bailable" offense, an accused can approach a magistrate even before trial to seek bail. In a non-bailable offence, bail cannot be granted by police at the police station itself.
Updated 20:47 IST, July 30th 2019