The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved three amendments to the triple talaq bill, including adding a provision of granting bail to the men found guilty of giving instant triple talaq. However, senior government officials, who did not want to be named, said the amendments notwithstanding, giving instant triple talaq or ‘talaq-e-biddat’ will continue to be illegal and void, and will attract a jail term of three years. Also, instant triple talaq will continue to be a non-bailable offence, they added. The amendments will only allow the accused to approach a magistrate even before trial to seek bail. The magistrate would, however, ensure that bail is granted only after the husband agrees to grant compensation to the wife, as provided in the bill. The quantum of compensation will be decided by the magistrate, as per the bill. “The provision has been added to allow the magistrate to grant bail after hearing the wife,” said Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad during a press briefing. This was one of the demands of the Opposition. Under a non-bailable law, bail cannot be granted by the police at the police station itself. The proposed law will be applicable on instant triple talaq, or ‘talaq-e-biddat’, and will give the victim the power to approach a magistrate seeking “subsistence allowance” for herself and minor children. The law will also allow the woman to seek the custody of her minor children, the final call on which will be taken by the magistrate.
