Introduction of triple talaq Bill in Lok Sabha

Why in news
  • The government introduced The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019.
  • It is  also known as the triple ‘talaq’ Bill.
More in news
  • The government had promulgated the ordinance on triple ‘talaq’ twice — in September 2018 and in February 2019
  • The Bill remained pending in the Rajya Sabha, though it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
Governments View
  • Govt asserted that the legislation was about gender justice and equality. The bill was not about religion but a “question of dignity of women and Govt is committed to safeguard it”.
  • There were 543 cases of triple ‘talaq’ reported in the country. 
  • Even after the Supreme Court judgement banning the practice, more than 200 cases were reported.
Why Opposition to the Bill
  • The Bill conflates civil and criminal law.
  • The Bill represents “textbook example of class legislation” as it was pointed at one community — Muslims — even though abandoning wives was not unique to it. 
  • The Bill violated constitutional rights as it stipulated a three-year jail term for Muslim men, whereas a similar offence by non-Muslim men attracted only a year of jail term.
  • Jail term for a man for divorcing his wife was legally untenable.



Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 22nd Jun 2019