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to be maintained by her husband. Section 125 as a limited owner. Sarojini Naidu, Kamala surayya, Shobha De,
of the Criminal Procedure Code also deals with There are a few laws which have been proved to Arundhatiroy, Anita Desai are some of them.
maintenance of wife and children. If there is a be a boon to the women of India. Some of which Sarojini Naidu is called the nightingale of India.
decree of maintenance against the husband and includes the law relating to the abolition of ‘Sati’. Arundhati Roy was awarded the Booker Prize
the couple have been living apart for over one Satīwas a religious funeral practice among some (Man Booker Prize) for her novel The God of
year, it would be a ground for the wife to seek Hindu communities in which a recently widowed Small things.
dissolution of marriage. Here again the Muslim Hindu woman either voluntarily or by use of force Crime Against Women
Personal Law has a different set of conditions for and coercion would have immolated herself on Over 32000 murders, 19,000 rapes, 7500 dowry
the annulment of an Islamic marriage. her husband’s funeral pyre. The practice is rare deaths and 36500 molestation cases are the
The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 says that and has been outlawed in India since 1829. violent crimes reported in India in 2006 against
any person who gives, takes, or abets the giving Four months after the RoopKanwar incident at women. There are many instances of crime
or taking of dowry shall be punished with Deorala, the focus of attention shifted to the need especially against women go unreported in
imprisonment, which may extend to six months for central legislation to stamp out the oppressive India. These are figures released by the National
or with fine up to Rs. 5,000 or with both. Dowry practice of Sati. Two rallies in Delhi, Rajasthan Crime Records Bureau recently. While Madhya
women activists, Pradesh is worst off among the states, the
MP's in the national capital New Delhi continues to hold on
State and at the to its reputation of being the most unsafe city in
Centre all called India. Delhi takes the top slot for crimes ranging
for stringent from murders and rapes to dowry deaths and
legislation abductions.
against Sati. Sexual Harassment:
By 1 October, Sexual harassment is intimidation, bullying or
the Rajasthan coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome
Legislature or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange
had already for sexual favours. Sexual harassment in India
promulgated an is termed "Eve teasing" and is described as:
ordinance against unwelcome sexual gesture or behaviour whether
Sati which is directly or indirectly as sexually coloured
now a State remarks; physical contact and advances; showing
Act passed by pornography; a demand or request for sexual
assembly and favours; any other unwelcome physical, verbal/
upheld by the non-verbal conduct being sexual in nature.
Rajasthan High The critical factor is the unwelcomeness of the
that started off as a practice to give away presents Court. By the New Year, the Commission of Sati behaviour, thereby making the impact of such
to the departing daughter, usually some resources (Prevention), Act had passed through both houses actions on the recipient more relevant rather than
to begin her new married life, slowly assumed with a minimum of debate or amendment. intent of the perpetrator. According to India's
extraordinary proportions and turned into a social Few notable Indian Women: constitution, sexual harassment infringes the
evil. Brides were expected to bring the "gifts" Arts and entertainment: fundamental right of a woman to gender equality
regardless of their personal willingness. The Singers and vocalists such as M.S. under Article 14 of the Constitution of India
bride's family could no longer have an individual Subbulakshmi, Gangubai Hangal, Lata and her right to life and live with dignity under
say; lists were prepared and sent to the girl's Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, and actresses Article 21 of the Constitution. Although there
house before the final agreement between the such as Aishwarya Rai, are widely revered in is no specific law against sexual harassment at
two families. The condition being that the boy India. Anjolie Ela Menon is one of the famous workplace in India but many provisions in other
would marry the girl only if the demands were painters. legislations protect against sexual harassment at
met. Such a custom is being practiced not only in Sports: workplace, such as Section 354, IPC deals with
India but also in other countries like Bangladesh Although the general sports scenario in India is “assault or criminal force to a woman with the
and Nepal. The reason behind this custom is the not very good, some Indian women have made intent to outrage her modesty, and Section 509,
poor economical condition of the people along notable achievements in the field. Some of the IPC deals with “word, gesture or act intended to
with a lack of education; unawareness of legal famous female sportspersons in Indian include P. insult the modesty of a woman.
rights among women and a general bias against T. Usha, J. J. Shobha (athletics), Kunjarani Devi Evolution of sexual harassment law in other
the women. (weightlifting), Diana Edulji (cricket), Saina jurisdictions:
Crimes like rape, kidnapping, eve teasing and Nehwal (badminton) , Koneru Hampi (chess) In India, the case of Vishaka vs. State of
indecent exposure can be grouped as crimes and Sania Mirza (tennis). Karnam Malleswari Rajasthan in 1997 has been credited with
against women. Rape is the worst crime (weightlifter), is the only Indian woman to have establishing sexual harassment as illegal.
against women after murder and the maximum won an Olympic medal (Bronze medal in 2000). Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan (AIR 1997 SC
punishment under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Politics: 1997):
is life imprisonment. An abortion or miscarriage Through the Panchayat Raj institutions, The litigation resulted from a brutal gang rape of
due to natural causes is not an offence. Therefore, over a million women have actively entered a publicly employed social worker in a village in
the law does not deal with it. However, violent political life in India. As per the 73rd and 74th Rajasthan during the course of her employment.
and forceful abortion is a crime. Sections 312 and Constitutional Amendment Acts, all local The petitioners bringing the action were
316 of the Indian Penal Code deal with abortion elected bodies reserve one-third of their seats various social activists and non-governmental
as crime. Section 313 deals with abortion without for women. Although the percentages of women organisations. The primary basis of bringing
the consent of the woman. The punishment could in various levels of political activity has risen such an action to the Supreme Court in India
even be life imprisonment. considerably, women are still under-represented was to find suitable methods for the realisation
The Hindu Succession Act gives male and female in governance and decisionmaking positions. of the true concept of “gender equality” in the
heirs almost equal right to inheritance. Section Literature: workplace for women. In turn, the prevention
14 says that any property possessed by a female Many well known women writers are in of sexual harassment of women would be
Hindu shall be held by her as full owner and not Indian literature as poets and story writers. addressed by applying the judicial process.
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