New Delhi
The Rajya Sabha on Friday deferred the controversial triple talaq Bill to the next session of Parliament due to lack of consensus among parties.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said: “Triple talaq Bill will not be taken up because no consensus could be built around it.” The Rajya Sabha was expected to take up the “diluted” version of the legislation, officially called the Muslim Women Bill, 2017, on Friday last day of the session. However, sources say the decision was taken to help the passage of two other important legislations listed after the Private Members Business, which the Opposition would have stalled if the government went ahead with the triple talaq Bill.

Naidu said only two Bills would be taken up for consideration Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill and Commercial Courts, Commercial Division an Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill. They have already been adopted by the lower House. In the morning session, the TMC had objected to inclusion of government Bills during the time allotted for “private Members’ Business ”. Its members had staged a walkout when the Chair did not agree with it.

To Opposition members’ objections, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel said they wanted to stall the triple talaq Bill. “The government has to do business. It may explore other options… the session could be extended,” he said. The Opposition is opposed to the Bill on the ground that the government is rushing with the legislation. They want safeguards against misuse of the law and want it to be referred to a select committee.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that the Narendra Modi government may take the ordinance route to enact the legislation that sets aside the Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives by uttering “talaq” thrice.