Parliament LIVE: Govt to Make Fresh Push for Triple Talaq Bill, Tamil Nadu Water Crisis Up for Discussion Too

M. Venkaiah Naidu also stressed on the importance of smooth functioning of the Rajya Sabha. He said 10 members lose their opportunity to ask questions when even a single Question hour is lost. With as many as 22 bills getting lapsed in the previous term, Naidu also expressed his concern for the same. 

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu praises former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh | While pitching for parliamentary reforms, Vice-President M. Vekaiah Naidu heaped praise on former PM Manmohan Singh, who retired from Rajya Sabha on June 14. "This House will miss an able parliamentarian and a distinguished economist," said Naidu. 

Mr. Kishore asks a supplementary question that whether the government has any provision to make it mandatory for companies to gift plants and saplings to those buying vehicles. 

Another member questions Mr. Javadelkar regarding green cover in schools and creating awareness among schooll children. Mr Javadekar answers that a scheme for growing and nourishing trees in schools is already underway.  

Replying to Kaushal Kishor's question, Environmement Minister Prakash Javadekar says the ministry has started a green campus initiative and many trees inculding banyan and neem have been planted in the IIM campus. 

Question Hour | The 17th Lok Sabha takes up its first Question Hour with BJP MP Kaushal Kishor directing his question towards Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. He points out that most plants planted under the plantation drives are shrubs and tall trees only for beautification but which do not offer much shade. 

The Narendra Modi government has decided to give a fresh push to these proposed laws in the newly-constituted Lok Sabha. These ordinances will have to be converted into laws within 45 days of the beginning of the session, else they will lapse.

10 Ordinances Lined-up | In the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha, the new government plans to convert 10 ordinances, including the one to ban the practice of instant triple talaq, into law. The ordinances were issued in February-March this year by the previous government as these could not be converted into Acts of Parliament in the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha.

While the ordinance makes it a "non-bailable" offence, an accused can approach a magistrate even before trial to seek bail. In a non-bailable offence, bail cannot be granted by police at the police station itself. A provision was added to allow the magistrate to grant bail "after hearing the wife", the government had said.

Introducing Safeguards | Seeking to allay fears that the proposed law could be misused, the government has included certain safeguards in it such as adding a provision for bail for the accused during trial. These amendments were cleared by the Cabinet on August 29, 2018.

The government had promulgated the ordinance on triple talaq twice — in September 2018 and in February 2019 — as the contentious bill remained pending in the Rajya Sabha, though it was passed by the Lok Sabha.

Why the Bill Lapsed | With the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha last month, the previous bill had lapsed as it was pending in the Rajya Sabha. Bills that are introduced in the Rajya Sabha and are pending there do not lapse with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. However, bills passed by the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha lapse with the dissolution of the lower house.

Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019, divorcing through instant triple talaq is illegal, void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

Opposition to Triple Talaq Bill | The Bill, which proposes to make the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) a penal offence, had faced objections from the opposition parties which claimed that jail term for a man for divorcing his wife was legally untenable. The new bill is a copy of the ordinance in force.

Triple Talaq Bill to be Tabled Today | As the Budget session of the 17th Lok Sabha convenes for the day, a fresh bill to ban the practice of instant triple talaq will be introduced today.  The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, which has been listed in the Lok Sabha's agenda for Friday, will replace an ordinance issued in February by the previous BJP-led NDA government.