Two years after triple talaq was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Indian Parliament passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, criminalising triple talaq.

Source: Jagran Josh

The bill in its present form makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence and provides for a jail term of 3 years to a Muslim man pronouncing it.

Source: Livemint

To understand triple talaq better you need to know that there are three types of divorce in Islam - Ahsan, Hasan and Talaq-e-Biddat (triple or instant talaq). While Ahsan and Hasan are revocable, Talaq-e-Biddat is irrevocable.

Triple talaq refers to the pronouncement of talaq three times by a Muslim man in one sitting to his wife.

Source: Zee News

According to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), triple talaq is a matter of faith for the Hanafis, who make up more than 90% Sunnis in India and have been following it for 1,400 years now.

With the bill becoming a law, its declaration in spoken, written or through SMS or WhatsApp or any other electronic chat would be considered illegal and void.

The new bill also makes triple talaq a cognisable offence and gives powers to the police to arrest the offender without requiring a warrant. But there is a condition that the complaint should be filed by the aggrieved woman or any of her relatives.

A welcome move in the bill is that it provides a scope for reconciliation without undergoing the process of nikah halala. This is possible only if the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings and settle the dispute.

Source: Jagran

The bill met with a strong opposition every time it was introduced in the Parliament. While some critics termed it redundant, others saw it as a means to harass Muslim men.

The fact that the bill has some flaws opens the possibility of its misuse against men.

Source: Outlook India

As of now, the bill stands passed by both the houses of the Parliament and will become a law after it receives the President's assent.