The Government of India (GoI,) on the 21st of June, tabled the Triple Talaq Bill for discussion in the Lok Sabha.
Triple Talaq Bill 2019, officially known as the Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill 2019, is one of the major issues to be discussed in today’s Parliamentary session.
The 16th Lok Sabha, headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP,) had tabled the bill, however, the Triple Talaq Bill lapsed as it was pending in the Rajya Sabha.
The BJP, on the 21st of June, again introduced the bill, which restricts Muslim men from taking instant talaq.
According to the Triple Talaq Bill, triple talaq is an offence, which will lead to imprisonment. Any Muslim man who initiates triple talaq, either orally (face to face or through a phone call,) through writing, or through any social media, is punishable under the bill.
A case under the bill will be valid only if the wife or a blood relative of the wife files a complaint. Triple talaq is a non bail offence, wherein bail can only be granted by the magistrate after the plea of the wife. The case will be closed if the couple agrees to a settlement.
The idea behind the Triple Talaq Bill is to empower the women in India.
However, opposition parties such as the Indian National Congress (INC,) the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) opposed the Bill and said, it is legally untenable.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the President of the AIMIM, also opposed the Bill and brought up the Sabarimala issue.
As of now, out of the 542 Members of Parliament (MPs,) 187 agreed to introduce the Bill, whereas 74 of them opposed it.
Although the majority of MPs in the Lok Sabha represent the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the BJP, the result regarding the votes will be out soon.
The Lok Sabha session was adjourned and resumed at 2:30 P.M.
Stay tuned for further updates.
