India's upper house passes Triple Talaq Bill

New Delhi: After hours of deliberation, India’s upper house, the Rajya Sabha, passed the Triple Talaq — Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) — Bill, 2019. The bill makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence and provides for a jail term to a Muslim man for the crime.

The bill was cleared by the House with 99 votes in favour and 84 opposing it.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 that prohibits divorce by pronouncing talaq thrice in one go was passed with 303 votes in favour and 82 against in the lower house.

Rajya Sabha had earlier rejected an opposition sponsored motion to send the bill to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee with 100 votes against it as compared to 84 in favour.

During the debates in both houses, the opposition raised the issue of 'selective targeting' of religious groups and tried to drive home the point that centre was acting in a biased manner.

Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM took a dig at India’s ruling party, the BJP, saying it has so much affection for Muslim women but is opposed to rights of Hindu women to enter Sabrimala Temple in Kerala. The Triple Talaq Bill violates constitutional rights as it stipulates three-year jail term for guilty Muslim men while non-Muslim men get only one year of jail term for a similar offence.

However, the Indian Supreme Court has already declared Triple Talaq an invalid practice. This new law is a legislative ancillary to aid in the punishment of those found guilty of practising this.

The bill now goes to the president for his assent. If he gives his approval, it will immediately become a law.