Cabinet passes triple talaq ordinance

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday signed off on an ordinance to make instant triple talaq an offence. The cabinet approval for enacting the law by an executive order comes nearly 10 months after the NDA government first moved a bill in Parliament. Instant triple talaq, the Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives immediately by uttering the word “talaq” thrice, had been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in August last year. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 had been cleared by the Lok Sabha in December last year but it had been stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the NDA does not have a majority. The opposition contended there were gaps in the proposed law that left it open to misuse.