WOMEN LAWS: SHIELD OR SWORD

Abstract

The condition of women deteriorated in the Indian society over the years subjecting them to a patriarchal mindset, cruelty and other forms of inhumane and unjust treatment. Taking this into mind the Legislature and the Judiciary took positive steps towards curbing this social evil by enacting various effective laws and laying down guidelines, observations and recommendations respectively. Various Women Centric Laws were enacted for the protection of women from various evils prevailing in the society. These evils included that of dowry, cruelty, domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, outraging the modesty of women, etc. These laws were set up as a shield to protect their respect and dignity against crime that is committed against them. However, in the recent years, the data shows that several cases that are filed by women against men pertaining to crime against women are false and are filed in a fit of anger, over trivial fights or in order to blackmail the men to gain some unfair advantage. This article discusses about various women laws along with the data showing the need of such laws. This article further discusses about misuse of such laws where the women are using laws for their benefit and there are multiple guidelines issued by our higher courts on this.

References

1. Indian Penal Code, 1860.
2. Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3. State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal 1992 AIR 604, 1990 SCR Supl. (3) 259.
4. Arnesh Kumar v State of Bihar (2014) 8 SCC 273.
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8. Manoj Kumar Arya v State of Uttarakhand Criminal Misc. Application No. 79 of 2021.