The government on Thursday decided to re-promulgate the ordinance that makes the practice of instant triple talaq a criminal offence.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Lok Sabha had passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill to replace an ordinance promulgated in September last year.
However, the government did not table the Bill in the Rajya Sabha apprehending that it may not pass muster given the superior opposition numbers.
The ordinance is due to lapse on January 22.
The BJP argued that the Triple Talaq Bill aimed at sending Muslim men, who resort to instant divorce, to jail and the Opposition is not helping the cause of women of the community. However, the Opposition claims that they are not opposed to the Bill but only against the provision criminalising triple talaq as it is a civil matter.
In the Rajya Sabha, the numbers are stacked against the BJP as more than 110 MPs are against the bill, while BJP could muster around 90 MPs in its support.
(Published 10 January 2019, 17:49 IST)
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