Triple talaq ordinance repromulgated

The ordinance making the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence for Muslim men was issued for the third time on Thursday.

The Law Ministry said President Ram Nath Kovind has signed the The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019.

On Tuesday, the cabinet gave its nod to re-issuing of the contentious triple talaq ordinance.

A bill to ban the practice of talaq-e-biddat has been passed by Lok Sabha and is pending Rajya Sabha's nod where the government lacks numbers.

The bill is set to lapse with the dissolution of the present Lok Sabha on June 3.

The ordinance has been reissued for the third time in less then a year.

Opposition parties and some community leaders have claimed that jail term for a man for divorcing his wife is legally untenable. The government has asserted that it provides justice and equality to Muslim women.

To a question about the need for a government to clear several ordinances, including the one on triple talaq, weeks ahead of the general election, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said on Tuesday that discussions on these ordinances and bills had been "physically prevented" in Parliament.

"It (discussion) has not been prevented because numbers were against it... Indian democracy cannot be helpless. Extraordinary situations do call for such steps," he had said.

Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019, divorcing through instant triple talaq will be illegal, void and would attract a jail term of three years for the husband