The Union Cabinet today approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence. Briefing media in New Delhi, IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, the Supreme Court had in a verdict in August last year declared it illegal and unconstitutional.

He said, it was cleared by the Lok Sabha but was stuck in the Rajya Sabha. The Minister said, Government tried to take the opposition along but the  Congress did not come forward.

The ordinance will have similar provisions as the Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Act. In the Rajya Sabha, the opposition had demanded that it be sent to Select Committee for more scrutiny.