Today was the last day of the Winter Session and the Rajya Sabha adjourned without discussing the Triple Talaq Bill. Now the Bill will be pushed to the Budget Session which will begin in less than a month. The Congress and BJP issued whips to all the MPs in the Rajya Sabha to be present in the House in case the Triple Talaq Bill is discussed.
Discussing the Bill was listed on the agenda for Rajya Sabha but it was not brought up due to the deadlock between the Government and the Opposition. The Government saw this coming as it failed to convince the Opposition to pass the bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Government was also at a major disadvantage in the Rajya Sabha with a minority of members. Congress united and demanded the Bill be sent to a Parliamentary Committee for review.
The Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Bill 2017 makes triple talaq a criminal offense. The people indulging in the practice can be sentenced to a maximum of three years imprisonment. The Supreme Court defined triple talaq as unconstitutional last year and the Government used it to gain points in the Rajya Sabha but failed.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad urged the MPs in the Rajya Sabha to support the bill. He added that despite the Apex Court’s order women are being divorced through triple talaq every day.
The Congress, Telugu Desam Party, AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal have all asked for further scrutiny of the Bill. The BJP was shocked because even their allies refused to help pass the Bill. The ones against the Bill have stated the Bill fails to give any financial aid to the abandoned Muslim women.
A few others are concerned by the fact that passing this Bill could lead to women misusing it and filing complaints on triple talaq.
