Legal Rights Every Indian Woman Must Know

Being aware of the legal rights can help women when in distress. Have a quick look at the legal rights which every women must be aware of.The issue of women empowerment is a crucial one in India and the world right now. Through the years women have been suppressed and denied their rights. With more and more women getting educated and becoming aware about their condition, they are beginning to question the suppression that they have been subjected to so far. Every government now has made a separate set of rules and regulations to empower and protect their women including India. In India there are a set of legal rights issued in the interests of its female citizens. But most women are not aware of it. Here are some of the legal rights. In this article Right to PrivacyRight to FIRLegal AidInterrogationNo Sexual Harassment Policy1. Right to PrivacyAs per section 164 of criminal procedure code, any woman who has been subjected to sexual abuse has the right to record her statement in the presence of only the district magistrate or the judge who has been authorized to handle her case. She has to right to demand that no one else be present while she is recording her statement. The victim of a rape incident if she refuses to reveal her identity cannot be forced to do so. The police or the media cannot make her identity public. If they do, under section 228-A, it is a punishable offense.2. Right to FIRA police station has to register a FIR that has been reported by a woman. If an incident of sexual assault or molestation has taken place the police station cannot refuse. The police cannot refuse to file a report even on the grounds that considerable time has passed since the incident has occurred. Police stations often send women to other police stations to avoid getting involved and to avoid responsibility of the case. In those cases, the woman can lodge a complaint against that police station under the Zero FIR ruling.3. Legal AidAny woman who is a citizen of India has the right to demand that she be provided free legal aid. If a woman has suffered a traumatic experience or has been sexually or physically abused, by strangers or her acquaintances she has the right to legal aid from the government of India. Women should ask for the free legal aid even before they provide a statement to the police.4. InterrogationPolice stations do not have the authority to forcibly call a woman to a police station if they wish to interrogate her. This is mentioned under legal code section 160 of the criminal procedure. If a woman has lodged a complaint at any police station and they need to interrogate her for further information, they cannot compel her to come to the police station. Alternately, if a woman is involved in a criminal case, she cannot be called to the police station forcefully. Also a woman cannot be arrested after sunset or before sunrise. There have been reports of women being arrested after dark and abused at the police station. A woman cannot be arrested if there is no woman constable present.5. No Sexual Harassment PolicyIt is mandatory for every employer who has women working for them to create a sexual harassment complaints committee. The Supreme Court has passed this law for women’s welfare. This committee should look into any harassment complaints that are lodged by women employers. The committee should be headed by a woman and have 50% female members.All these steps have been taken by the government of India to ensure that its women are safe. Every woman residing in India is eligible to exercise these rights when required. No police or judicial body can deny women these rights. Supreme Court has decreed that violation of these rights will lead to punishment.Which important legal rights should women be aware of? What are the benefits of being aware of the legal rights for women? How can women be aware of their important rights in India? Discuss here.

Being aware of the legal rights can help women when in distress. Have a quick look at the legal rights which every women must be aware of.
The issue of women empowerment is a crucial one in India and the world right now. Through the years women have been suppressed and denied their rights. With more and more women getting educated and becoming aware about their condition, they are beginning to question the suppression that they have been subjected to so far. Every government now has made a separate set of rules and regulations to empower and protect their women including India. In India there are a set of legal rights issued in the interests of its female citizens. But most women are not aware of it. Here are some of the legal rights.

1. Right to Privacy

As per section 164 of criminal procedure code, any woman who has been subjected to sexual abuse has the right to record her statement in the presence of only the district magistrate or the judge who has been authorized to handle her case. She has to right to demand that no one else be present while she is recording her statement. The victim of a rape incident if she refuses to reveal her identity cannot be forced to do so. The police or the media cannot make her identity public. If they do, under section 228-A, it is a punishable offense.

2. Right to FIR

A police station has to register a FIR that has been reported by a woman. If an incident of sexual assault or molestation has taken place the police station cannot refuse. The police cannot refuse to file a report even on the grounds that considerable time has passed since the incident has occurred. Police stations often send women to other police stations to avoid getting involved and to avoid responsibility of the case. In those cases, the woman can lodge a complaint against that police station under the Zero FIR ruling.

3. Legal Aid

Any woman who is a citizen of India has the right to demand that she be provided free legal aid. If a woman has suffered a traumatic experience or has been sexually or physically abused, by strangers or her acquaintances she has the right to legal aid from the government of India. Women should ask for the free legal aid even before they provide a statement to the police.

4. Interrogation

Police stations do not have the authority to forcibly call a woman to a police station if they wish to interrogate her. This is mentioned under legal code section 160 of the criminal procedure. If a woman has lodged a complaint at any police station and they need to interrogate her for further information, they cannot compel her to come to the police station. Alternately, if a woman is involved in a criminal case, she cannot be called to the police station forcefully. Also a woman cannot be arrested after sunset or before sunrise. There have been reports of women being arrested after dark and abused at the police station. A woman cannot be arrested if there is no woman constable present.

5. No Sexual Harassment Policy

It is mandatory for every employer who has women working for them to create a sexual harassment complaints committee. The Supreme Court has passed this law for women’s welfare. This committee should look into any harassment complaints that are lodged by women employers. The committee should be headed by a woman and have 50% female members.

All these steps have been taken by the government of India to ensure that its women are safe. Every woman residing in India is eligible to exercise these rights when required. No police or judicial body can deny women these rights. Supreme Court has decreed that violation of these rights will lead to punishment.

Which important legal rights should women be aware of? What are the benefits of being aware of the legal rights for women? How can women be aware of their important rights in India? Discuss here.