Legal Rights for Women in India
We live in a country where women are both worshipped and harassed. Most cases of harassment occur because we are unaware of women’s legal rights in India. Recognizing the growing trend of women’s harassment cases, the government of India grants critical rights to all women living in the country. It is, however, pointless if you do not know who they are.
So, in this article, we will go over 10 legal rights for women in India that you should know.
10 Legal Rights for Women in India
Here are 10 Legal rights for women in India. I am sure you know some of them already but if not, no worries
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1. Right Against Arrest
No woman may be arrested after sunset or before sunrise, according to CrPC section 46(4). Under exceptional circumstances, a woman can only be arrested by a female police officer with the permission of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class.
2. Women have the right to equal pay
The Equal Remuneration Act states that no one can be discriminated against because of their gender when it comes to salary, pay, or wages.
Working women have the right to earn the same salary as men.
3. Equal Share in the Property
The 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act made a significant difference. This amendment put an end to the daughters’ long-standing discrimination. Daughters are now coparceners by birth as a result of this amendment. This means they will receive an equal share of their ancestral property as the son.
4. Right to Get Free Legal Aid
According to section 12(c) of the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987, any aggrieved woman, regardless of financial status, is eligible for free legal aid.
5. Right to Adopt a Child
Section 8 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act states that any female Hindu of sound mind over the age of majority may adopt any child, even if she is unmarried.
6. Right not to be summoned to the police station for questioning
Women of any age cannot be summoned to the police station under section 160 of the CrPC. Her statements can only be recorded in the presence of a female constable and her family members where she lives.
7. Right Against Being Stalked
A woman has the right (section 354D of IPC) to file a complaint against any man who follows, contacts, or attempts to contact her, whether physically or virtually (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
8. Right to Get Maternity Leave
The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017, amends the Maternity Benefit Act, 1987. This new amendment provides:
- Maternity leave of 26 weeks for the first two children.
- Maternity leave of 12 weeks for mothers with more than two children.
- Maternity leave of 12 weeks for women who adopt children under the age of three months.
9. Right Against Female Foeticide
The law aims to make it illegal to use a prenatal diagnostic technique to determine the gender of an unborn child. It also prohibits the promotion of such sex-determination techniques. The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act of 1994 makes determining the gender of an unborn child illegal, lowering the mortality rate of female foetuses in the womb.
10. The Right to a Safe Abortion
A girl under the age of 18 has the legal right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy with the consent of her guardians, according to section 3(4) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.
Whereas an adult woman, whether married or not, can terminate her pregnancy up to 20 weeks when the continuation of pregnancy becomes a risk to her life or harmful to her health.
Conclusion
So these are the 10 legal rights of women in India that are covered in this article, which I believe everyone should be aware of so that if you see injustice happening to women anywhere in the future, you can raise your voice with proper legal facts.
If you thought this article was helpful, don’t forget to share it with your female friends because you never know who might need this information.
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