Law Minister blames ‘orthodox segment’ on instant triple talaq

NEW DELHI: When transformational laws are brought for the welfare of the people, the orthodox segments oppose them but the opposition eventually fails, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday, referring to those opposing the draft law on instant triple talaq.

He added that history was full of examples where the opposition to such laws had failed.

In a series of tweets, Prasad said many Muslim women had met him and requested for a stringent penal provision against the practice of “talaq-e-biddat” or instant triple talaq.

“Many major Islamic countries have done away with this practice. Why should a secular country like India not abolish it?” he asked.

Prasad said when “transformational laws like triple talaq bill” were brought for the welfare of the people, “the orthodox segments oppose that but their opposition fails”.

He added that over 300 cases of instant triple talaq were reported in 2017, of which more than 100 were reported after the Supreme Court judgment in August, declaring the practice unconstitutional.

“Triple talaq was taking place even after the Supreme Court had called it unconstitutional. To safeguard the women victimised by (instant) triple talaq, it was important to make a law that provides penal action against those who practised it,” Prasad said.