UP man working in Kuwait gives triple talaq on WhatsApp

Days after the Parliament approved a bill criminalising the practice of instant talaq, a man from Uttar Pradesh has allegedly divorced his wife giving triple talaq on WhatsApp.

Reports quoted local police as saying that the man divorced his wife from Kuwait, where he is working as a labourer, after the latter filed a dowry and harassment case against him and his family on May 27. Police said the woman, who is from Bihari village under Sikheda police station in Muzaffarnagar district, also alleged that her husband had demanded Rs 5 lakh from her.

The accused put pressure on the woman to withdraw the case, but she refused, prompting him to resort to triple talaq.

The Parliament on July 30 approved the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence, after the contentious legislation was passed by Rajya Sabha. Under the new bill, Instant divorce by Muslim men will be punishable by jail term of up to three years.

The opposition parties had maintained that in its current form, the law could be misused to harass Muslims and wanted it to be reviewed by a parliamentary committee.