On Thursday, Lok Sabha passed a bill for the Muslim Women’s rights on marriages. This bill is commonly known as the Triple Talaq bill. The bill passed even after some of the Opposition showed dissent over the bill.
Lok Sabha passes Triple Talaq Bill
The bill is passed for the purpose to make triple talaq an offence with 245 ayes as opposed to 11 noes in the Parliament under the Indian Penal Code with the terms of three-year jail for the convicted husband. The bill was passed after the government strictly put the measure saying that this matter should not be seen through the political point of view but it must be seen to give justice to the injustice happening to the Muslim women in the name of triple talaq. 20 Islamic countries have banned the triple talaq and its practice is declared as an offence against the government so why not a secular country like India can have such a law.
Some parties such as Congress, AIADMK and TMC left the house and walked out as they were demanding to send the bill to a Joint Select Committee but their demand was denied.
Lok Sabha passes triple talaq bill with amendments even as Opposition stages walkout; NCW welcomes move
Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress leader) demanded that the bill must be sent to a joint select committee of both Houses for better analysis. AIADMK leader P Venugopal, TMC’s Sudip Bandhopadhyay, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Supriya Sule (NCP) also agreed with the demand.
Ravi Shankar Prasad (Law Minister) said in the Parliament that this bill is not about politics and there is no political motive or influence on this bill but it must be passed for empowerment and justice for women.
“Don’t weigh the bill on the scales of politics. This bill is not about any specific religion and community. The bill is about humanity and justice,” he said in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
He also made the law more accurate and errorless. He said that the case can only be withdrawn when his separated wife compromises. He also said that the FIR could only be filed through the convicted wife and her close relatives. He claimed that these provisions will out-rule the misuse of the law. He urged the lawmakers of other parties to combine their voices to bring this bill as legislation.
Textile Minister Smriti Irani also supported the law and said that if the parliament is able to abolish dowry and sati pratha then it can also ban the triple talaq. Pointing out to the congress, she said that congress missed many chances to bring such law while being the governing body.
After the bill passed in the lower house, the National Commission for Women (NCW) welcomed the bill. “We welcome the move. We have seen the suffering of the women in absence of the bill and we have long been advocating its passage,” NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said.
