Rajya Sabha passes Triple Talaq bill, awaits Presidential assent to become a law During the debates in both houses, the opposition raised the issue of 'selective targeting' of religious groups and tried to drive home the point that centre was acting in a biased manner. ET Online and Agencies|Updated: Jul 30, 2019.

After hours of deliberation, the Rajya Sabha today passed the triple talaq- Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019. The bill makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence and provides for a jail term to a Muslim man for the crime. It was cleared by the House with 99 votes in favour and 84 opposing it. 

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 that prohibits divorce by pronouncing talaq thrice in one go was passed with 303 votes in favour and 82 against in the lower house. 

Rajya Sabha had earlier rejected an opposition sponsored motion to send the bill to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee with 100 votes against it as compared to 84 in favour. 

During the debates in both houses, the opposition raised the issue of 'selective targeting' of religious groups and tried to drive home the point that centre was acting in a biased manner. 

Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM took a dig at the BJP, saying it has so much affection for Muslim women but is opposed to rights of Hindu women to enter Sabrimala Temple in Kerala. The Triple Talaq Bill violates constitutional rights as it stipulates three-year jail term for guilty Muslim men while non-Muslim men get only one year of jail term for a similar offence 

Controversial Aspects 

The Bill makes declaration of talaq a cognizable offence, attracting up to three years’ imprisonment with a fine. The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by: (i) the married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or (ii) any person related to her by blood or marriage. 

The Bill provides that the Magistrate may grant bail to the accused. The bail may be granted only after hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail. 

The Triple Talaq bill could not make it through the Upper House earlier this year during the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, although it was passed by Lok Sabha. 

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