Women and Law: From Impoverishment to Empowerment

In this work, Prof. Lalita Dhar Parihar examines the political, social, and religious factors that have determined the position of women in society. The author, recognising these issues, argues for equality, empowerment, and emancipation of women, both in the public and private spheres.

The author has critically examined and discussed in the work, the following issues, among others:

• Women's rights under the Constitution - equality, dignity, and freedom from discrimination;
• Her right to maintenance under the personal laws of each religious group and the Criminal Procedure Code;
• Offences against women, including sexual harassment of women at the workplace; and
• Emerging issues defining the position of women, including the much-debated Women's Reservation Bill.

Further, various statutes governing the rights of women such as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955; the Domestic Violence Act, 2005; the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994; the MTP Act, 1971; the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 etc. have been analytically discussed in the book.

The book will be of immense use to academics, students, and legal practitioners in the fields of feminist jurisprudence, discrimination law, human rights law, constitutional law, labour law, and family law. It will also be of interest to social activists, NGO's etc.

Chapter I: Prologue
Chapter II: Woman and the Constitution
Chapter III: Maintenance Rights of Women
Chapter IV: Maintenance Rights of Women under the Criminal Procedure Code
Chapter IV-a: Muslim Women’s Right to Maintenance
Chapter IV-B: Maintenance Rights of Women under Other Personal Laws
Chapter V: Offences Against Women
Chapter VI: Women's Empowerment
Chapter VII: Conclusion
Chapter VIII: Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace
Bibliography
Subject index