After just a day of discussion, the Lok Sabha (LS) on Thursday passed a bill that makes triple talaq a criminal offence.
The draft bill, officially called Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, says, “any pronouncement of talaq by a person upon his wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal.”
The draft bill also has a provision of imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years, and a fine, for violators.
“We are not interfering in Shariat”, said law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in the LS today during the debate on the Triple Talaq Bill.
A Muslim man who resorts to Talaq-e-Biddat or instant talaq would be jailed for three years and custody of any minor children would be granted to the affected woman. The draft bill also envisages entitling divorcee Muslim women for maintenance.
The law minister added that Centre is looking at the bill through the lens of humanity and not politics, as alleged by the opposition parties.
During the debate, several opposition parties had expressed reservations about the draft bill.