The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act 2019

• 06 Aug 2019

 The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019 after receiving Presidents nod became an Act.

• The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 has replaced an Ordinance promulgated on triple talaq.

Key Provisions

• Declaration of Talaq: The Act makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal.
  • The Act defines talaq as talaq-e-biddat or any other similar form of talaq pronounced by a muslim man resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce.
• Offence and Penalty: The Act makes a declaration of talaq a cognizable offence, attracting up to three years imprisonment with a fine.
  
  • A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.
• Cognizable Offence: The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or any person related to her by blood or marriage.
• Bail: The Act provides that the Magistrate may grant bail to the accused.
  
  • The bail may be granted only after hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.
• Compounding Offence: The offence may be compounded (i.e. the parties may arrive at a compromise) by the Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared).
  
  • The terms and conditions of the compounding of the offence will be determined by the Magistrate.
• Allowance: A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek subsistence allowance from her husband for herself and for her dependent children.
  
  • The amount of the allowance will be determined by the Magistrate.
• Custody: A Muslim woman against whom such talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek custody of her minor children.
  
  • The manner of custody will be determined by the Magistrate.

Source: PIB