Union Cabinet approved amendments to the marriage law directed in Favour of woman

Union Cabinet on 17 July 2013 approved amendments to the marriage law enabling a married woman to get a share of her husband's ancestral property as reparation in case of a divorce.

The Bill is now expected to come up for channel in the Monsoon Session of Parliament in August 2013. The decision was taken to make marriage law more women friendly and to decide how sufficient compensation can be given to a woman from her husband's ancestral property in case of divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.

The Group of Ministers was asked to take a view on whether a judge can exercise discretion in granting divorce if one of the partners does not move a second joint application for divorce with mutual consent. The GoM also discussed the issue of allowing courts to decide on doing away with the mandatory six-month waiting period for couples seeking divorce through a joint petition by mutual consent.

As per the bill the woman should get adequate compensation by calculating the husband's share in the event that ancestral property cannot be divided.