Muslim women display placards during a protest against 'triple talaq' bill in New Delhi. (File Photo by Ravi C... Read More

NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet on Thursday approved an amendment in the yet-to-be-passed instant triple talaq bill , making it permissible for a magistrate to give bail for the offence, news agency ANI reported.

Read also : Triple Talaq Bill Amendment Live log

The offence, though, continues to remain a non-bailable one.

In December, the Lok Sabha passed a bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence. The bill was passed after the House rejected a string of amendments moved by various opposition members. Despite reservations by opposition parties, the bill was cleared on the same day that it was introduced - something that was possible because the BJP government has a brute majority in the Lower House.

The draft bill, officially called Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, says, "any pronouncement of talaq by a person upon his wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal."

The draft bill also has a provision of imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years, and a fine, for violators.

