New Delhi: The Union government will re-introduce the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament. The Bill makes ‘talaq-e-biddat’ a cognizable offence punishable by imprisonment up to three years.
Replying to question on whether the government will introduce the Bill again, Prasad said on Monday, “Yes. Obviously. (The issue of) triple talaq is part of our manifesto. Why not?”
He added that the ban on triple talaq “is part of the BJP political manifesto” and, therefore, will be introduced in Parliament. In December last, the triple talaq Bill was passed in Lok Sabha but it remained pending in Rajya Sabha.
Bills that are introduced in Rajya Sabha and pending there do not lapse with the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Bills passed by Lok Sabha, and pending in the Rajya Sabha, however, lapse.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, which made the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) a penal offence, was opposed by the opposition parties which had claimed that jail term for the husband for divorcing his wife is legally untenable.
The government had promulgated the ordinance on triple talaq twice. Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019, divorcing through instant triple talaq will be illegal, void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
The opposition has pitched for referring the Bill to a joint panel of the Parliament, claiming that specific provisions were unconstitutional and that there was a need for further examination.
The government, which has rejected the Opposition’s demand, has twice promulgated The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019. The ordinance lapsed after the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.
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Ms Kalinga