New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the bill to ban triple talaq, with the government asserting that the law was required as hundreds of cases of instant divorce have come to the fore despite Supreme Court striking down the practice.

Replying to the debate on the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the law was also required to prescribe punishment for those violating it. A move by the Opposition to stall the bill at the time of its consideration was rejected by a division vote of 303 for and 82 against. Several amendments moved by the Opposition were defeated.