There are some rights that are easily forgotten. Here are 8 laws all women in India ought to know.
1. Women Officers for Women Offenders
Between 6 pm and 6 am, women can only be stopped, detained, questioned by women officers. If female officers are not present, women cannot be questioned or taken away.
2. No Arrests At Night
A woman cannot be arrested after sunset or before sunrise unless prior permission has been taken from a magistrate. A woman can be taken into custody only in the presence of a woman officer and that too with proper dignity.
3. Register Complaint Via E-Mail
Delhi Police guidelines state that women can register a complaint via email or registered post addressed to the Deputy Commissioner or the Commissioner of Police. One of two senior police officers will then forward the complaint to the rightful SHO who will verify the complaint and lodge an FIR.
4. Can Be Questioned At Home
Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code states that a woman cannot be called for questioning to a police station. She has the right to be questioned at her place of residence.
5. Fight Sexual Harassment At Work
As per the Vishakha guidelines, all places of work should have an in-house committee to deal with sexual harassment complaints. An employer’s failure to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee can attract a penalty of up to Rs 50,000.
6. Equal Pay For Equal Work
The Equal Renumeration Act states that it is the duty of the employer to pay equal renumeration to men and women workers for the same work or work of similar nature. It also says that no discrimination is to be made when recruiting men and women workers.
7. Maternity Benefits
Maternity Benefits Act of 1961 states that every woman has the right to avail paid maternity leave for a period of 12 weeks. The law also states that no employer should knowingly require a pregnant employee to do arduous work involving long hours of standing or any work which is likely to interfere with her pregnancy or cause miscarriage or adversely affect her health.
8. Right To Abort
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act or the MTP Act, 1971 says pregnancy not exceeding 12 weeks may be terminated based on the opinion of a single doctor. If the period of pregnancy exceeds 20 weeks, then the opinion of two doctors has to be taken before initiating an abortion.