New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, in a significant step, cleared a fresh Bill on Wednesday (June 12). This is to ban the mediaeval practice of instant triple talaq. Once passed by the Parliament, this Bill will replace an ordinance issued earlier this year.

As the 16th Lok Sabha was dissolved last month, the contentious Bill had lapsed as well as it was stuck in the Rajya Sabha and hence could not be passed in the Parliament.

With an angry opposition up in arms in relation to certain provisions of the Bill, the ruling party could not pass it in the Upper House as it lacked numbers.

The Bill which was known as The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, made instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat a penal offence. The opposition bench primarily opposed the clause of jail term provision for the husband for exercising instant triple talaq.