Legal Rights of Women in India

A famous author and a writer quoted “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless you
women are side by side with you. It states that that rising of nation depends not only on men
instead men and women working together side by side. Further, as far as legal rights are
concerned they are defined as, a claim recognized and delimited by law for the purpose of
securing it according to the Merriam Webster dictionary. India is a country with diversity, which
makes India different from other countries. Women are an essential part of each and every
country and thus it is important to give them equal rights and equally respect them. We live in a
shady and messed up world, where life of a person is taken away by a loved one, where
goddesses are worshipped while women (of any age) are maimed and harassed. The only
way out to keep an eye on such horrific happenings is to make laws and rules stricter to
keep a check on the horrendous crimes. 1

The rights available to woman (ladies) in India can be classified into two categories, namely as
constitutional rights and legal rights. The constitutional rights are those which are provided in the
various provisions of the constitution. The legal rights, on the other hand, are those which are
provided in the various laws (acts) of the Parliament and the State Legislatures. Crimes against2

women occur every minute in India. Women are not safe, whether it is in their houses, public
places or at the workplace. Your safety in your hands sounds like a clichéd adage to repeat.
Given the number of crimes that are committed against women, it is pertinent that women are
aware about the laws that are in place to protect them. Remember knowledge is power. As a
parent, wife, daughter, employee and a woman these are rights set in place to protect you and it is
important that one is aware about these.3

Here are 10 top legal rights for women in India,

 The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 : According to the International Research
Centre for Women, almost 47 percent of girls are married before the age of 18. Currently,
India ranks 13 in the world when it comes to child marriages. Since child marriage has
been steeped into the Indian culture and tradition since centuries, it has been tough
eliminating it. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act was made effective in 2007. This
act defines child marriage as a marriage where the groom or the bride are underage, that
is, the bride is under 18 years of age or the boy is younger than 21 years. Parents trying to
marry underage girls are subject to action under this law. Since the law makes these
marriages illegal, it acts as a major deterrent.4

1
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/love-sex/10-legal-rights-that-women-should-
know/articleshow
2
https://edugeneral.org/blog/polity/women-rights-in-india/
3
https://yourstory.com/2016/06/laws-that-protect-women-rights/
4
https://yourstory.com/2016/06/laws-that-protect-women-rights/
  Special Marriage Act, 1954: The objective of this act is to provide – a special form of
marriage in certain cases, provide for registration of certain marriages and, to provide for
divorce. In a country like India and with the diverse religions and cast, when people from
different faiths and caste chose to get married they do it under the Special Marriage Act.
It is not applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and also extends to intending
spouses who are Indian nationals and living abroad.

 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: According to this act, taking or giving of dowry at the
time of the marriage to the bride or the bridegroom and their family is to be penalised.
Dowry system, giving and taking of dowry, is a norm in India. Dowry is often asked of
the bride and her family by the groom and his family. The system has taken strong roots
because women after marriage move in with their spouse and in-laws. Also, over the
centuries, the lack for economic independence of women and the taboo towards divorce
has resulted in bride burning. When demands for dowry even after marriage are not met
by the girl’s families, many women are tortured, beaten and even burnt. It is one of the
major challenges that our society is grappling with. Women when openly complain about
it, it helps to spread the word and encourage other women to take a stand.

 Indian Divorce Act, 1969: The Indian Divorce Act allows the dissolution of marriage,
mutual consent, nullity of marriage, judicial separation and restitution of conjugal rights.
Family Courts are established to file, hear, and dispose of such cases.

 Maternity Benefit Act, 1861: This act regulates the employment of women and
maternity benefits mandated by law. It states that a woman employee who has worked in
an organization for a period of at least 80 days during the 12 months preceding the date
of her expected delivery is entitled to receive maternity benefits, which includes
maternity leave, nursing breaks, medical allowance, etc.

 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971: The Act came into effect into 1972, was
amended in 1975 and 2002. The aim of the Act is to reduce the occurrence of illegal
abortion and consequent maternal mortality and morbidity. It clearly states the conditions
under which a pregnancy can be ended or aborted and specifies the persons qualified to
conduct the same.

 Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and

Redressal) Act, 2013: To ensure women’s safety at workplace, this Act seeks to protect
them from sexual harassment at their place of work. Thirty-six percent of Indian
companies and 25 percent among MNC’s are not complaint with the Sexual Harassment
Act according to a FICCI-EY November 2015 report. Sexual harassment at workplace
also includes – the use of language with sexual overtones, invasion of private space with
a male colleague hovering too close for comfort, subtle touches and innuendoes.5

5
https://yourstory.com/2016/06/laws-that-protect-women-rights/
  Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act,1986: This Act prohibits
indecent representation of women through advertisement or in publications, writings,
paintings, figures or in any other manner.

 National Commission for Women Act, 1990: The National Commission for
Women (NCW) is a statutory body of the Government of India, established in January
1992. Lalitha Kumaramangalam was appointed its Chairperson in 2014. The NCW
represents the rights of women in India and provides a voice for their issues and
concerns. The National Commission for Women Act aims to improve the status of
women and worked for their economic empowerment.

 Equal Remuneration Act, 1976: This Act prevents discrimination in terms of

remuneration. It provides for payment of equal recompense to men and women workers.
It is necessary to know these and other laws in place to protect the interests of women.
Only if you are aware of your rights can you fight against any injustice meted out to you
at home, at the workplace, or in the society.

Women movement has played the role of a catalyst in awakening the state and society
from slumber. Any nation cannot move forward living half of its population behind. We
can infer from thoroughly analyzing the Indian experience that a radical feminist
movement is unwarranted to challenge and change the existing unjust order. Patriarchal
construct of the society cannot become a shackle to women movement. All the women
movement in Indian history is an example stating that the will power of women can
vanquish the evil power. ‘Naari Shakti’ has the vigour to challenge Society and state.
Women’s participation can make a huge difference in the intensity of a movement.
Women power fuelled every successful movement in Ancient, Medieval and Modern
India. Many Social Evils which was infecting our social system vanished after the tireless
campaign of our valiant women. The Dream of India to win its freedom could not turn
reality without the struggle of all those women who faced all the torture by alien
government to see India free. All the Social movement in modern India for ‘JAL,
JANGAL, JAMIN’ will lose its strength without Women power. There is no problem in
the world which can dare a women’s will. Women movement has changed the world and
will be doing so till the world become perfect.6

6
http://vle.du.ac.in/mod/book/view.php?id=13419&chapterid=29686