Legal Rights of Women in India
Tejashree Anant Salvi
Introduction
Women's rights are well protected in India. Women have special rights under our Constitution for their protection and development. Furthermore, the IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act are all in effect when it comes to women's rights and protection. We also have specific, unique legislation in place to ensure the proper application of women's rights against abuse, harassment, assault, and inequality, among other things. Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956; Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961; Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986; Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013; Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and others.
Right to maintenance
Maintenance comprises the needs of existence, such as food, housing, clothing, education, health care, and so on. Even after divorce, a married woman has the right to maintenance from her husband until she returns him. Maintenance is determined by the standard of living of the wife, as well as by the situation and income of the husband. Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, requires the husband to support his divorced wife unless the wife lives in adultery, refuses to live with her husband without justifiable cause, or when both of them live apart by mutual accord. Under the aforementioned rule, any Indian woman, whatever caste or religion, can seek an interview with her husband. The Hindu Law of Marriage 1955 also provides support, but only for Hindu women. On the other hand, the dissolution of the 1939 Muslim marriage law is applied exclusively to Muslim women.
Right to equal pay
We now have gender-neutral legislation. A male and a female are both entitled to the same compensation for doing the same job. The Equal Pay Act makes the same provision. It ensures that male and female workers are paid equally for doing the same or equivalent work. Discrimination based on sex should not be tolerated in the context of employment or conditions of service.
Right to dignity and decency
Women's gems are dignity and decency. Anyone who is looking for a Kidnapper and pushed the modesty of a woman is considered a sinner and the law indicates that they will be punished. Every woman has the right to a dignified life, free from fear, coercion, violence, and discrimination. The dignity and modesty of women are highly valued by law. Sexual harassment 354A), assault to disrobe her (Sec. 354B) or affronting her modesty (Sec. 354), voyeurism (Sec. 354C), stalking (354D), and other offenses against women are punishable under the law.
Right against domestic violence
Because of the passage of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act in 2005, every woman has the right to be free of domestic violence. Domestic violence encompasses not only physical abuse but also emotional, sexual, and economic abuse. So, if you are a daughter, a wife, or a live-in partner and are subject to any of these abuses by your part partner, husband, is relatives, or by someone related to you by blood or adoption who lives or has lived with you in a shared household, you are well protected under the provisions of the Domestic Violence You can take action and you can seek various remedies offered by You can lodge your complaint by calling the Women's Helpline at They will notify the police about your You can also contact your local women's cell, which you can discover via Google. They offer specific services to these ladies and help them submit their returns with the magistrate after preparing their complaints properly. You can also go to the police station and save your case.
Rights at the workplace
You have the right to a women's restroom where you work. Establishments with more than 30 female workers must provide facilities for child care and feeding. In addition, the Supreme Court and the government have adopted measures to protect the safety of women at work. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in Vishakha v. the State of Rajasthan, established unique criteria for the protection of women from sexual harassment at work, and the Govt. To that aim, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION, and REDRESSAL) Act, 2013, was passed in 2013. So, if anyone at your workplace asks you for sexual favors, makes sexually charged remarks, whistles at you, sings obscene songs at you, inappropriately touches you, or displays pornography, this is considered sexual harassment, and you may file a complaint with the Internal Complaint Committee, which must be trained by the employer in each office or second branch with 10 or more The District Officer is also responsible for forming a Local Complaints Committee in each district and, if necessary, at blocking level. Aside from that, IPC 354A penalizes sexual harassment.
Right against dowry
The dowry system, i.e., giving and receiving dowry by a bride or groom or their parents before, during, or after marriage, is prohibited under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. The law defines the "dot" as any security or a valuable guarantee provided directly or accepted directly or indirectly by apart to the other but does not include dower or mahr in the case of people subject to Muslim Personal Law (Shariat).
Right to free legal aid
If you are a woman who has been wronged, you have the right to get free legal assistance from legal services authorities authorized by the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, regardless of whether you can afford legal services on your own. At the district, state, and national levels, respectively, legal services authorities are established at the district, state, and national levels. Assisting in the conduct of any case or other legal process before any court, tribunal, or authority, as well as advising on legal concerns, are examples of legal services.
Right of private defense/self-defense
It is a protective right. To defend your own body or that of another person against the aggressor, you can induce pain, severe pain, even death. However, you can only murder the aggressor without facing culpability or penalty if the following conditions are met: When you believe that the aggressor is going to inflict your death or great bodily harm, or to commit rape, kidnapping, or abduction, or to lock you in a room, or to throw or attempt to throw acid at you, you have the right to kill that person, and the law will defend.
CONCLUSION
Women are well protected by Indian law. Every Indian woman should be aware of the eight most common yet fundamental rights of women. A person who understands the law doesn't need a gun. The law itself is his weapon, and that's what makes him the most powerful person. Being aware of your rights makes you wise and just. Only by knowing your rights can you combat any injustice you experience at home, at work, or in society.
REFERENCES
https://blog.ipleaders.in/eight-important-rights-every-indian-woman-know/