India set to set 3 year jail term for Muslim men who practic instant divorce

India is all set to criminalise triple talaq, a practice of instant divorce common among the country’s minority Muslims, with a three-year jail term.

Officials said the Indian government was likely to bring in a legislation in the winter session of Parliament, which would not only make triple talaq illegal and void, but also entail a jail term of three years for the Muslim husband.

“Under the draft law, triple talaq in any form — spoken, written or by electronic means like email or SMSes will be illegal. Besides, giving instant talaq will be a non-bailable and cognizable offense,” a senior official said Saturday.

“The idea is to empower Muslim women and save them and their children. The law, if passed by the Parliament, will be a deterrent for Muslim men to divorce their wives simply,” he added.

The draft law has been prepared by an inter-ministerial group, headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Though Talaq-e-biddat (instant divorce) has no mention in Sharia Islamic law or the Koran, the practice has existed for decades that allows a man to divorce his wife just by uttering the word “talaq” thrice.

(Xinhua/NAN)