Triple talaq bill stupid: Asaduddin Owaisi

All India Majlise-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has opposed the bill seeking to criminalise instant triple talaq. 

Owaisi took to Twitter on Wednesday and said that the bill would have severe consequences and will lead to further exploitation of married women.

“What a stupid bill has been drafted which is draconian & will lead (sic) further exploitation & more injustice to married muslim women,” 

Owaisi tweeted. He said that the government’s attempt to expedite the introduction of the bill without any effort to appreciate the legal nuances involved is of deep concern. “This is being done by Modi government only for political considerations, burden of proof on women,” Owaisi tweeted.

The proposed law would only be applicable on instant triple talaq or ‘talaq-e-biddat’ and it



would give power to the victim to approach a magistrate seeking “subsistence allowance” for herself and minor children. The woman can also seek the custody of her minor children from the magistrate who will take a final call on the issue.

The bill was drafted to “protect” the rights of married Muslim women and to curb divorce by their husbands with the pronouncing of ‘talaq’. As per the bill, the husband can also be fined and the quantum of fine would be decided by the magistrate hearing the case.

The bill also states that instant triple talaq in any form, for instance, spoken, writing or by electronic means such as email, SMS and WhatsApp would be illegal. The ‘Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill’ proposes a three-year jail term for the man who divorces his wife through talaq-e-biddat (instant triple talaq).