Govt. is likely to bring a bill to end the practice of Triple Talaq
NEW DELHI : The Union NDA government is likely to introduce a bill to end the Islamic practice of Triple Talaq in the Parliament during the upcoming Winter Session.
Ttoday that the government has also constituted a Ministerial Committee to frame a Law and the it has been proposed to bring this legislation in the forthcoming session of Parliament. This development comes months after the Supreme Court set aside the regressive practice of Triple Talaq.
In its verdict, the top court had observed that till the time the government comes up with a law banning the practice, “we are satisfied in injuncting Muslim husbands, from pronouncing ‘talaq-e-biddat’ as a means for severing their matrimonial relationship. The instant injunction, shall in the first instance, be operative for a period of six months.”
“If the legislative process commences before the expiry of the period of six months, and a positive decision emerges towards redefining ‘talaq-ebiddat’ (three pronouncements of ‘talaq’, at one and the same time) – as one, or alternatively, if it is decided that the practice of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ be done away with altogether, the injunction would continue, till legislation is finally enacted. Failing which, the injunction shall cease to operate,” SC had said.
The apex court had directed Union Government to come with a legislation to ban Triple Talaq. “…We are satisfied, that this is a case which presents a situation where this Court should exercise its discretion to issue appropriate directions under Article 142 of the Constitution. We therefore hereby direct, the Union of India to consider appropriate legislation, particularly with reference to ‘talaq-e-biddat’.”
Top government sources confirmed that the committee will likely include a high-profile list of Ministers – Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and at least two Ministers of State.
Set aside by SC
The Supreme Court had, in August this year, in a majority judgement set aside the practice of talaq-e-biddat, an arbitrary and unilateral decision by a Muslim husband to end the marriage by utterance of the word talaq three times.
A senior government official said that the need for a new law was felt after it was found that divorce by way of talaq-e-biddat was taking place even after the SC judgment. “In a recent incident of talaq-e-biddat, it has been reported that a person in a leading educational institution divorced his wife through WhatsApp and short message service and the wife had to approach the police,” said the official.
“As the law stands today, the victims have no option even after approaching the police as there exists no provision in law to take action against the husband,” added the official.
(With Agency Inputs ).
