Nehru, Manmohan Singh, Vajpayee all made changes in personal laws, says Jaitley on debate over ‘Triple Talaq’

Amid the ongoing debate over ‘Triple Talaq’, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said that 'reforming the personal laws, even if there is no uniformity, is an ongoing process', adding, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have all brought changes to personal law in the past. 

In a Facebook post titled “Triple Talaq and the Government’s Affidavit”, Jatiely said, "With passage of time, several provisions became obsolete, archaic and even got rusted. Governments, legislatures and communities have to respond to the need for a change." 

"Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s Government had brought about major reforms to the Hindu Personal Laws through legislative changes. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Government brought further legislative changes with regard to gender equality in the Hindu Undivided Family. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Government, after active consultations with stakeholders, amended the provisions of marriage and divorce relating to the Christian community in order to bring about the gender equality," his post read. 

Advocating for Modi Government's approach towards proposed ammendments in personal law, the minister said, "The government is of the clear view that personal laws should be constitutionally compliant and in conformity with norms of gender equality and the right to live with dignity."

Also read: What is Uniform Civil Code? 

“Personal laws have to be constitutionally compliant and the institution of Triple Talaq, therefore, will have to be judged on the yardstick of equality and the Right to Live with Dignity. Needless to say that the same yardstick would be applicable to all other personal laws,” he said.

Observing that the constitutional validity of ‘Triple Talaq’ is distinct from the Uniform Civil Code, he said as of today, the issue before the Supreme Court is only with regard to the constitutional validity of Triple Talaq.

In its affidavit in Supreme Court on October 7, the Law Ministry argued that polygamy and Triple Talaq should be done away with, and said that such practices “cannot be regarded as essential or integral part of the religion”.

(With PTI Inputs)