Bills on 10 ordinances lined up for house session starting June 17

NEW DELHI: In the forthcoming session of Parliament, the government plans to bring bills on 10 ordinances that it had promulgated in its first term after the opposition used its majority in the Rajya Sabha to block the bills in the previous session. The list includes the contentious triple talaq bill, and amendment bills on Jammu and Kashmir reservation, Aadhaar laws, Companies Act and Indian Medical Council Act.

On top of the legislative agenda for the session starting June 17 is The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019, commonly known as the triple talaq ban bill, according to people aware of the matter.

Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has announced that the government is firm on getting this bill passed in the Upper House. Other ordinances on which the government plans to bring bills in the 40-day session ending on July 27 are The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, The Companies (Amendment) Second Ordinance, The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, The Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance and The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Ordinance.

The opposition had raised objections to certain provisions in the bill that seeks to ban instant triple talaq and demanded that it be sent to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha. The government repeatedly refused to acquiesce but it climbed down on some provisions like removing the clause that allowed a third party to file a case alleging instant triple talaq was given by an individual to his wife.

The Congress, Left parties and others also objected to the act of triple talaq being treated as a criminal offence and jail for the husband, maintaining this will end all hopes of a reconciliation between the couple and the man will be no position to pay compensation during his incarceration.

The 16th Lok Sabha, where too the BJP had an overwhelming majority, had passed the triple talaq bill within a day after discussing the proposed legislation. BJP leaders say in private that the bill won them the support of Muslim women in states like Uttar Pradesh for protecting their rights.

In August 2017, the Supreme Court had declared instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat unconstitutional.

The Indian Medical Council Bill and The Companies Bill have been pending for months in the Upper House as the opposition has issues with certain provisions.