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Modi govt drafts Bill proposing 3 year jail term for husbands in instant triple talaq cases

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8 years ago

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Modi govt drafts Bill proposing 3 year jail term for husbands in instant triple talaq cases

Bill also provides for a subsistence allowance of a harassed Muslim woman and her dependent children along with custodial rights of minor children

In a move that could provide a strong deterrent to the obnoxious practice of instant triple talaq in a section of the Muslim community, the Centre is ready with a draft Bill that proposes a three year jail term for husbands who divorce their wives through Talaq-ul-Biddat – uttering the word talaq three times in one go.

Over three months after a majority verdict by a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court decried Talaq-ul-Biddat to be “unislamic, arbitrary and unconstitutional”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is ready with a draft law that would ban instant triple talaq.

The Bill, which proposes a three year jail term and monetary fine for Muslim husbands who divorce their wives by merely uttering talaq thrice in a single stroke – often through Whatsapp or e-mail – is likely to be tabled for passage in the upcoming winter session of Parliament that will be convened from December 15.

The draft Bill, according to media reports, proposes to make instant triple talaq a “cognizable and non-bailable” offence, while it also proposes a slew of other measures like a subsistence allowance and custodial rights of minor children for the wronged Muslim woman in a marriage.

The Bill, which could replace the controversial Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, once it is passed by Parliament has been drafted by a Group of Ministers (GoM) that was constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s historic verdict that banned instant triple talaq in August. The GoM included Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad. The GoM was set up after two members of the Supreme Court Bench – then Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer – said in their minority verdict that the issue of banning instant triple talaq should be dealt through legislation and not by the judiciary.

The draft law, titled Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, according to a report in the Indian Express, allows a Muslim woman who has been given instant triple talaq to move court, seeking “subsistence allowance” for herself and dependent children, as well as custody of minor children.

These rights were not adequately dealt with in the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 which was drafted by the Congress government under then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and passed by Parliament largely as a means to overturn the Supreme Court verdict in the Shah Bano case. The 1986 Act had largely dealt with the issue of providing maintenance to the Muslim woman who has been divorced through Talaq-ul-Biddat and had not gone into other equally important issues such as provision for a ‘subsistence allowance’ for her children or her custodial rights of minor children.

The proposed law, sources privy to the draft said, expressly bans instant triple talaq in “oral, written, electronic or any other form” and states that any declaration of Talaq-ul-Biddat by a Muslim man shall be “illegal and void”.

It may be recalled that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board while opposing judicial intervention in the instant triple talaq case had expressed that it was open to a ban on Talaq-ul-Biddat being imposed through an Act of Parliament.

The Bill, once enacted into a law by Parliament, will apply to all Indian states with the exception of the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir since the northern state enjoys autonomy under the Indian Constitution on drafting its own laws.

According to media reports, 244 cases of triple talaq — 177 before the Supreme Court’s verdict of August 22 and 67 ever since — have been reported from across the country this year, with Uttar Pradesh leading the list in Talaq-ul-Biddat cases. These, however, are figures of instant triple talaq cases that are reported and the actual number of such incidents could actually be much higher.

While the merits of banning the practice of instant triple talaq through legislation cannot be denied, it is also important to note that if Prime Minister Modi’s government does succeed in having the law enacted – which it is expected to – there are obvious political and electoral benefits that the move would bring for the BJP.

Banning instant triple talaq has been a poll promise of the BJP for long and the party had raised the issue vociferously during the Uttar Pradesh assembly election campaign earlier this year in the hope that doing so would lead to incremental electoral support among Muslim women for its candidates. BJP leaders had, after the party’s stunning victory in Uttar Pradesh, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pitch for banning instant triple talaq had struck a chord with the Muslim women of the states, who had in turn voted for the BJP. While the truth behind the claim is hard to establish, it certainly makes for good political rhetoric for the BJP which otherwise has an anti-Muslim image.

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

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7 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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