New Delhi: Despite demanding a thorough revision of the proposed bill by the opposition parties in the parliament. The Modi lead BJP government while rejecting the opposition’s demand on Thursday passed the bill banning instant triple talaq (oral divorce) to the Muslim women, in the Lok Sabha. Although the legislation will now have to be cleared by the Upper House of Parliament.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which has opposed the law, has reportedly said that it will approach the Supreme Court of India (SCI), which, in August held the practice unconstitutional and illegal, though it didn’t rule on or suggest criminalising instant triple talaq.
Apparently, the proposed law that has a provision of up to three years of jail and a penalty for violators, was passed amidst concern from opposition members that it was criminalising what was essentially a civil procedure, and that it could be misused. Some Muslim women’s groups have also raised concerns about “maintenance” if the husband is sent to jail, media reports said.
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill seeks to “ensure the larger constitutional goals of gender justice and gender equality of married Muslim women and help sub-serve their fundamental rights of non-discrimination and empowerment”, reads the quote from a statement given by Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while informing the house.
As reported by the media sources most opposition parties were in favour of a law to deter Muslim men from practising talaq-ebiddat or instant triple talaq, and they demanded wider consultations, revisions and changes in the bill.
The bill was passed by a voice vote after rejecting a resolution moved by Revolutionary Socialist Party member NK Premachandran, reports Hindustan Times (HT).
Interestingly, the passage of bill by the BJP government is seen as an attempt to obliterate Muslim personal laws providing distinct identity to the Muslims and club them and the ‘others’ under the name of ‘unified civil code’.