Union Cabinet clears Bill to criminalize instant Triple Talaq

Nearly four months after a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court deemed it as unconstitutional, the Union Cabinet has cleared a Bill to criminalize the practice of instant Triple Talaq, according to news reports..The Bill will, in all probability, be tabled in the Houses of the Parliament during the Winter Session, which started today..According to news reports, the proposed bill, called the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, is a priority agenda for the government..Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was quoted as saying that the draft bill seeks to make the practice of talaaq-e-bidat (or triple talaq) a cognizable and non-bailable offence that would attract a jail term of up to three years. Reports suggest the Bill not only seeks to criminalize instant triple talaq, but also proposes to provide compensation for the affected women and their children..The Bill was sent to state governments, who were asked to give their assent by December 10. At least seven states have reportedly given the green signal to the Bill..In August this year, the Supreme Court had struck down the practice as being violative of the fundamental rights of Muslim women by a 3:2 majority. Then Chief Justice JS Khehar, who was one of the dissenters, left it open for Parliament to pass a law deeming triple talaq as an illegal practice.