Govt open to 'constructive' suggestions on triple talaq Bill: Ravi Shankar Prasad


New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS): Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said the government was receptive about any "constructive" suggestions by the Opposition on the triple talaq Bill.

His response came in response to IANS query as to why the government was not accepting the Opposition demand to refer the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 to a select committee of Parliament for scrutiny.

"Our decision will be decided on the floor of the House when I speak there. We have already improved a lot of things. A Select committee is important, but the plight of victim women is equally important. I would appeal to the MPs to listen to their plight," Prasad said.

"We have no ego in...But the thing is that whatever is needed to be improved has been done. If they (Opposition) have a constructive suggestion, they can give us. We are open to consider them. But they did not give any suggestion in the Lok Sabha," he added.

During the discussion on the Bill in Lok Sabha, the Opposition, and even the fence sitters such as the AIADMK and BJD, unanimously demanded that the Bill be referred to a joint committee for scrutiny.

The government did not yield to the demand and got the Bill passed after a four-hour debate.

When the Bill came up for discussion and passage in Rajya Sabha on December 31, the Opposition pressed for voting on the Bill whether it should be sent to a select committee of the House. The voting could not take place due to din and subsequent adjournment.

Slamming the Congress, Prasad said: "From Shah Bano to Shayara Bano, the Congress party's attitude has been the same. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is a woman herself. I would appeal the party should think of the victim women."

  

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Comment on this article

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Thu, Jan 03 2019

    Why bring in a law as per constitution of Nagpur?????.... Why not bring in a law as per constitution of India??????.....

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Jamal, Mangalore/UAE

    Thu, Jan 03 2019

    Instant triple talaq should be abolished but, what if a man abandons his wife without support to her and children without giving Talaq.
    What a stupid argument utter the word Talaq and enjoy jail term. WOW!

    Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Wed, Jan 02 2019

    According to the last census, more than 2 million women live separated from their husbands, many the victims of desertion. Let the law punish all such husbands, and not just the Muslim ones. Of these, the vast majority 1.9 million are Hindu women. The total number of “separated” Muslim women is 0.28 million.
    Six reasons why Triple Talaq Bill should be referred to select committee
    1. The Supreme Court last year declared instant Triple Talaq unconstitutional. Hence, as per the law, Triple Talaq , even if pronounced, cannot take effect. The marriage effectively remains despite the pronouncement. So, what is the Bill trying to achieve by criminalizing the ‘offence’ and by providing a three-year jail term to the husband?
    2. The Bill is discriminatory in the sense that while Muslim husbands are sought to be penalized with imprisonment for divorcing their wives, Hindu, Sikh or Christian husbands who abandon their wives face no such punishment.
    3. The Hindu Marriage Act does provide for a jail term to the husband in case of cruelty and desertion but it is one year’s imprisonment and not three years.
    4. At a time when the Supreme Court has decriminalised adultery and homosexuality, it is regressive to criminalise ‘instant divorce’, which is a civil wrong.
    5. No other country has a law that criminalizes the act of ‘divorce’.
    6. The law is flawed because it provides for both jail term for the errant husband as well as his obligation to arrange for maintenance of the wife and children. The jailed man is unlikely to be able to arrange for maintenance, making a lot of the wife and children worse.
    If a man is found to be having an extra-marital relationship with multiple women, it’s not a crime anymore. But he pronounces Triple Talaq, he will be sent to jail for three years. If the SC has ruled that the marriage doesn’t get annulled as a result of pronouncement of Triple Talaq, then what will you punish for?
    Why Just Muslims, Let's Criminalise the Abandonment of All Wives.
    JH

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Sms, Kundapura

    Wed, Jan 02 2019

    Let us discuss about rafale deal mr. manthriji. Why wasting your valuable time in silly things like triple talaq. Does this give anything towards development of the country? Be constructive.

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Sms, Kundapura

    Wed, Jan 02 2019

    Ironically, the person who never cared for his wife is now worried of Muslim women.

    Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 02 2019

    First give punishment to the man who abandoned his wife without even giving Talaq ,,,

    Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Govt open to 'constructive' suggestions on triple talaq Bill: Ravi Shankar Prasad



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