Table of Contents

Right to Property 8

  • Law Governing Property Rights of Hindu Women 8
    • Woman's Right Over Coparcenary Property 12
  • Law Governing Property Rights of Muslim Women 15
  • Law Governing Property Rights of Women from other Communities 20
  • Wills 23

Marriage, Divorce and Live-in Relationships 25

  1. Marriage 25
    1. Hindu Marriage 25
    2. Muslim Marriage 26
    3. Christian Marriage 28
    4. Parsi Marriage 29
    5. Special Marriage Act, 1954 30
    6. Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 30
  2. Divorce 32
    1. Dissolution of marriage between Hindus 32
    2. Dissolution of Muslim Marriage 34
    3. Divorce between Christians 36
    4. Divorce between Parsis 36
    5. Divorce under Special Marriage Act, 1954 36
    6. Divorce under Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 36
  3. Maintenance 37
    1. Maintenance under Hindu Law 37
    2. Maintenance under Muslim Law 39
    3. Maintenance under Christian Law 40
    4. Maintenance under Parsi Law 40
    5. Section 125 Criminal Procedure Code ("CrPC") 40
    6. Maintenance under Special Marriage Act, 1954 41
  4. Custody of the Child Post Divorce 42
  5. Live-in Relationships 44

Adopting a Child 46

Woman's Right to Birth Control and Right to be Born 53

  • Sexual and Reproductive Health 53
  • Medical Termination of Pregnancy in India 53
  • Ban on Sex Selection and Sex-selective Abortion 55

Women at Work: Employment Laws 59

Women at Work: Sexual Harassment 67

Sexual Offences Against Women 72

  • Rape 72
  • Other Sexual Offences 77

Dowry 80

Cruelty 83

Domestic Violence 86

Women and Crime 93

What Every Woman Should Know 93

Acknowledgements 96