President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the triple talaq bill passed by Parliament, turning it into a law which makes the practice of instant divorce among Muslims a punishable offence, a government notification said.
The gazette notification, published Wednesday, says thepresident has given assent to the bill passed by Parliament.
The Act will replace an ordinance promulgated on February 21this year to the same effect.
The new law — The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights onMarriage) Act, 2019 — makes talaq-e-biddat or any other similar form of talaqhaving the effect of instantaneous and irrevocable divorce pronounced by aMuslim husband void and illegal.
It makes it illegal to pronounce talaq three times inspoken, written or through SMS or WhatsApp or any other electronic chat in onesitting.
“Any pronouncement of talaq by a Muslim husband uponhis wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in anyother manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal,” the law says.Any Muslim husband who pronounces the illegalform of talaq upon his wife shall be punished with imprisonment for a termwhich may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine, it says.