Woman given triple talaq over dowry demand in Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI: A day after the Lok Sabha passed Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, a woman from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad area claimed to have been divorced through triple talaq practice over dowry demand.

The alleged triple talaq victim identified as Viraasha accused her husband of giving triple talaq over dowry. Viraasha claimed that her better half asked her to get a car or Rs 10 lakh cash, else he would divorce her.

The Lok Sabha passed the hugely contentious bill that criminalises instant triple talaq and makes it punishable by up to three years imprisonment for the husband, a development hailed by the government as "historic" but disapproved of by a section of the opposition.

The Lok Sabha passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill by voice vote after rejecting a string of amendments moved by opposition members.

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on August 22 declared the divorce pratice of triple talaq 'illegal' saying it was 'void' and 'unconstitutional'.

Under the proposed law, instant triple talaq in any form --spoken, in writing or by electronic means such as email, SMS and WhatsApp -- would be illegal and void.

The proposed law would be applicable to the entire country except in Jammu and Kashmir. It would make instant talaq punishable by a jail term of upto three years and a fine, and would be a cognisable, non-bailable offence.

There is provision for subsistence allowance from the husband for the livelihood and daily supporting needs of the wife as also of the dependent children. The wife would also be entitled to the custody of minor children.