The Union government put the Triple Talaq Bill on the Lok Sabha’s agenda on Thursday for consideration and passage, and the ruling BJP issued a whip directing its MPs to be present in the House in New Delhi.

What the bill does

The bill makes instant divorce by Muslim men a criminal offence and provides for a prison term for those found guilty. It was the first draft law introduced by the Narendra Modi government in the opening session of its second term, after it was sworn in in May.

Opposition and allies

Several opposition parties have fiercely resisted the measure. Parties including the Congress, the DMK and the Trinamool Congress have asked for it to be referred to a parliamentary committee for closer examination. The government, for its part, maintains that the bill advances gender equality and justice.

Some of the BJP’s own allies, among them the JD(U), have also voiced reservations about it.

The numbers in Parliament

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) commands a large majority in the Lok Sabha, so the bill’s passage there is all but certain. The Rajya Sabha is a tougher test, because opposition parties outnumber the treasury benches in the upper house.

Background

In the 2019 general election, counted on 23 May, the BJP won 303 of 543 Lok Sabha seats and the Congress 52. Narendra Modi was sworn in for his second term on 30 May 2019.

See also: Janata Dal (United) | DMK | Lok Sabha members

Originally published on 25 July 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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