Women’s Rights under Indian Law

Abstract Indian law in India treats women in two different ways i.e. firstly, on paper, and second one is the Constitution, laws and through court judgments it protects them. In real life, the women still face abuse and compromise in homes and police stations also still in the society. This article looks at how the law has improved for women and where problems remain. It begins with Articles 14 and 15(3) of the Constitution, and the court decisions that struck down unfair rules like forcing air hostesses to retire on marriage or pregnancy. It then explains how Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan led to the law against sexual harassment at work. On violence at home, it discusses the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and the wide meaning of “shared household,” while noting that justice often comes late. The article also covers the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, as in the Landmark case of Independent Thought v. Union of India, and the ongoing debate on marital rape of adult wives and still in India it is an exception. It looks at women’s property and personal rights through the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, such as in the case of Vineeta Sharma, and Shayara Bano. It concludes that the law has improved a lot, but enforcement and issues like marital rape still need attention and need to be changed. Keywords: Women’s rights, Article 14, Domestic violence, Sexual harassment, Hindu Succession