Differences within cabinet on marriage Bill, referred to GoM
2 May 2013 7:29 AM IST
The controversial Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday was referred to a Group of Ministers after differences cropped up over clauses dealing with a woman’s right to marital property in case of divorce.
The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a meeting, discussed in detail the proposed legislation but failed to arrive at a consensus and the matter was then referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM).
The law ministry had suggested that a woman be given a share in residential property of the husband, including inherited and inheritable premises, in case of divorce. The women and child development ministry suggested that a woman’s right to inheritable property and property acquired by the husband before marriage be kept out of the purview of the law.
The ministers discussed the amendments for over two hours during the meeting of the Cabinet. ‘When thinking men and women present different opinions, different opinions do not mean difference of opinion,’ said finance Minister P Chidambaram, when asked if there were difference in opinion in the Cabinet on the matter.
‘Views are expressed in a Cabinet and after expressing views, the Prime Minister takes the final decision. In this case the matter has been referred to a Group of Ministers to look at one or two clauses of the Bill,’ he said. The GoM would examine the clauses over the next few days and the Bill will come back before the Cabinet, added Chidambaram.
Even as the Cabinet was discussing the matter, a small group of protesters shouted slogans against the Bill outside the Prime Minister’s official residence. They were rounded up by the police and taken away from the high security zone.
The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a meeting, discussed in detail the proposed legislation but failed to arrive at a consensus and the matter was then referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM).
The law ministry had suggested that a woman be given a share in residential property of the husband, including inherited and inheritable premises, in case of divorce. The women and child development ministry suggested that a woman’s right to inheritable property and property acquired by the husband before marriage be kept out of the purview of the law.
The ministers discussed the amendments for over two hours during the meeting of the Cabinet. ‘When thinking men and women present different opinions, different opinions do not mean difference of opinion,’ said finance Minister P Chidambaram, when asked if there were difference in opinion in the Cabinet on the matter.
‘Views are expressed in a Cabinet and after expressing views, the Prime Minister takes the final decision. In this case the matter has been referred to a Group of Ministers to look at one or two clauses of the Bill,’ he said. The GoM would examine the clauses over the next few days and the Bill will come back before the Cabinet, added Chidambaram.
Even as the Cabinet was discussing the matter, a small group of protesters shouted slogans against the Bill outside the Prime Minister’s official residence. They were rounded up by the police and taken away from the high security zone.
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