Providing Security to Muslim Women: Abolishment of Triple Talaq

Issue of Talaq-e- Biddat

• Talaq-e-Biddat or Triple Talaq is a form of divorce that was practised in Islam, whereby a Muslim man could divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq three times.
• The man need not cite any reason for the divorce and the wife need not be present at the time of pronouncement of talaq.
• Banning the evil practice of Triple Talaq had been a demand from Muslim women for a very long time.
• The Supreme Court declared instant Triple Talaq to be in violation of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution in a majority decision issued on August 22, 2017.
• Even after the Supreme Court’s order and declaring this practice as unconstitutional, the practice of Triple Talaq continued.

Government Initiative

• After being passed by both Houses of Parliament, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 came into force.
• The Act declared instant divorce granted by the pronouncement of talaq three times as void and illegal.
• It provides for imprisonment for a term of up to three years and a fine to the husband who practised instant Triple Talaq.
• Triple Talaq law brought legal protection for Muslim women who were the victims of this regressive practice for the last several decades.
• This historic reform improved the existing conditions of Muslim women and helped them to come out of domestic violence and discrimination they were facing in society.