Triple talaq bill hits RS hurdle again

Bill couldn’t be taken up for discussion

The contentious Triple talaq bill, which seeks to criminalise the practice of instant divorce, could not be taken up for discussion and passage in Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Monsoon session on Friday. There was no consensus among political parties on the proposed legislation.

The government is said to be considering bringing an ordinance to outlaw the practice as its efforts to get the bill passed in Parliament have again failed.

“A decision will be taken soon in this regard. The government is committed to protecting the interest of Muslim women,” a minister familiar with the developments said on condition of anonymity.

The Congress-led Opposition has been demanding that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, be subject to further scrutiny.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, which does not have a majority in Parliament’s Upper House, had tried to get the bill cleared earlier in the budget session as well.

Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the bills “on which there is some sort of broad consensus” will be taken up for discussion and passage when the house reconvened after two adjournments.

Naidu clarified the Triple Talaq Bill will not be taken up as consensus has not yet been evolved on the issue.

The Union cabinet had on Thursday cleared some amendments to the draft bill and included a bail provision.

The amendments came after the Supreme Court on August 22 last year struck down the practice of triple talaq, calling it unconstitutional.

The Lok Sabha had passed the bill in December. The amendments to the draft legislation once cleared in Rajya Sabha will again be sent to the Lower House for passage.