A Bill criminalising the practice of instant triple talaq was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the eighth day of Parliament’s ongoing winter session, amid protests from opposition parties objecting its introduction.
Members from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Biju Janata Dal, and some other parties spoke against the introduction of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017. However, no member of the Congress Party was allowed to speak, as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan noted that they had not given a notice in advance to speak on the issue.
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called it a ‘historic day’, and stated that the Bill was to ensure gender justice for Muslim women.
It was introduced after a voice vote, as all treasury benches members supported the introduction of the Bill.
The Bill criminalises triple talaq, or oral divorce and has provision for a maximum three-year jail term and fine for practicing this form of divorce. It also gives Muslim women right to seek maintenance and right to child’s custody.
E.O.M