It’s a bold new age, where women in India are stepping out of traditional roles and into various professional fields. On the other hand, it’s a time when we aren’t all too safe either. The one advantage that women have is that the law is on their side. With that comes a responsibility of learning about various laws designed to protect them. Such laws offer them legal protection against violence, fraud and any type of crime committed against them based solely on their gender. Wherever you are and regardless of your age, these are a few Laws Related To Indian Women that are worth nothing.
Here is a List of Laws Related To Indian Women:
1. You Have a Free Lawyer When You Need One
First, all women bear the right to seek free legal counseling and help when it comes to the promotion of their wellbeing. This right has been reinforced by Article 21 and Article 38 (1) of the IPC. Women are often dismissed, shamed or overlooked when they report crimes at a police station. It helps if they approach law enforcement authorities, with a lawyer present.
2. Residential Home Visits are Restricted
Women can, according to the Criminal Procedure Code, Section 60, be questioned in their residence, provided there are women officers, constables present at that very time.
Those constables are also required to be present if women have to be arrested after sunset or before sunrise. In fact, the Supreme Court even gave their ruling on a 6 am to 6 pm time slot as well, that can only be overturned if the police have documents to prove their arrest procedures.
3. How to Actually File an FIR
According to an announcement made by the Delhi Police, women can file an FIR at any station present at the scene or locality of a crime. Authorities have to accept the report as it’s been described by the woman concerned. They are also required to carry out an investigation based on that initial report too, that’s why it’s known as a Zero FIR.
4. Mailing in Your Complaints
Women can even lodge complaints through registered post or email too addressed to designated senior officers if they can’t reach a station. As per Delhi Police, these emails are sent to Commissioner of Police or the Deputy Commissioner.
5. Protecting Yourself at Your Workplace
You’re entitled to equal remuneration too. You can fight any remuneration issue that doesn’t seem right with Section 4 of the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976. Speaking of workplace protection, an employer is liable to set up a committee to handle all sexual harassment complaints. This committee should comprise of ten or more employees, who have the same powers as that of a civil court for fast redressal of complaints.
This requirement was set down by the Supreme Court in their Vishaka guidelines. The same set of guidelines is now referred to as Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act.
6. What’s Owed to you When You Marry?
When it comes to the Hindu marriages, all jewelry and precious items gifted to the bride belong to her; those items are even recognized by property law as well. For Muslim women, it’s referred to as Meher and is allocated at the time of marriage by the bride’s relatives or family. In both cases, at the time of divorce, this becomes their property.
7. You Can Marry Anyone You Like
India is pretty diverse when it comes to religions, social norms. So the Special Marriage Act of 1954 was created for people belonging to different faiths, communities to get married. This act provides various ground rules for the actual marriage and even for the registration for separation or divorce as well.
8. Pregnancy and Maternity Leave
Pregnant women can’t be fired. They are entitled to maternity leave according to the Maternity Benefit Act. An amendment was added in 2017, which increased the previously allotted time of 12 weeks to 6 months.
9. Alimony, Self-Support and Child Custody
Post-divorce, the wife can stay under the care of her husband till she’s remarried or financially independent. Alimony paid to her during this time is decided or based on the husband’s income. Kids, under the age of 7, come under the custody of the mom.
Still, women who are qualified enough to hold jobs and earn on their own, their husbands aren’t liable to support them.
10. Inheritance of Family Belongings
A new amendment was added to the Hindu Succession Act 2005 sometime in 2015. It says that women are entitled to inherit half of the parents land, valuables, money etc.
The goal of this content is to make to aware about the Laws Related To Indian Women. Keep yourself informed of the benefits entitled to you in the workplace, home and by the government too. As a mom, wife, colleague, daughter you’re more valued than you think! Think I missed something? Let me know in the comments!