Triple Talaq Bill, 2018 passed in Lok Sabha

Even as opposition leaders staged a walkout, the Lok Sabha today passed The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 (Triple Talaq Bill).

The Central government had earlier passed an Ordinance criminalizing the practice of Triple Talaq in September this year. After the Ordinance lapsed, the Union Cabinet re-introduced it in the form of a Bill, which resembles the Ordinance.

Section 3 of the Bill deems any pronouncement of Talaq by a person upon his wife by any manner whatsoever, void and illegal. Section 4 invites a prison sentence for a Muslim husband who indulges in the practice, that could go up to three years, as well as a fine.

As was the case with the Ordinance, the offence of Triple Talaq is a cognizable one, if information relating to the offence is given by the married woman (against whom Talaq has been declared), or any person related to her by blood or marriage.  The offence may be compoundable at the instance of the married woman.

A Magistrate may grant bail to a Muslim man accused of committing the offence,  if he is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 was passed in the Lok Sabha in December last year. However, the Bill did not see the light of day after opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha expressed reservations regarding some provisions of the Bill.

Read the full text of the Bill: