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

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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.

India News

India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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