CRIME AGAINST WOMEN: REASONS AND REMEDIES

Ms. Kamla@
The status of women is an indicator of social and cultural advancement of
a society. Jawaharlal Nehru once said that you can tell the condition of a nation by
looking at the status of its women. The vibrancy and strength of a civilization is often
measured by its aesthetic sensibility, which inspires art and literature. Manu, the
progenitor of Hindu race, said that women should be honoured and adored by father
and brothers, by husband and also by brother-in-law. Where women are honoured,
Gods rejoice, but when they are neglected, all rites and ceremonies are fruitless. But
contradictions have been observed in his views regarding the status of women in
society. He also stated that the women should be kept day and night in the
subordination of males of her family. A woman has to be protected by her father in the
childhood, by her husband in the young age and by the sons in the old age. She lost her
identity after marriage. Manu believed that there is a vital structural difference between
a man and a woman. Each is suited for a different types of work. He regarded women
as more emotional and less rational by nature than man.

Moreover, the disparities in

our hierarchical Indian society are endemic, and they become more complex as the
hierarchies of gender intersect with hierarchies of class, caste and ethnicity, in addition
to regional variations.2 This research paper is a humble attempt to analyse the causes
of crime against the women folk in India. Various remedies to grant them the equal and
dignified social status have also been analysed.
Gender discrimination has been a universal phenomenon in human history
from time immemorial. On account of her biological constitution, social taboos and
scriptural sanction, the social position of the woman has always been considered as
inferior and subordinate to men in society.3 Gender inequality hurts the interests not only
of girls and grown-up women, but also of boys and men, through biological connections
(such as childhood undernourishment and cardiovascular diseases at later ages) and
also through societal connections (including in politics and in economic and social life). 4
@@ Assistant professor, Department of Political Science(USOL), Panjab University, Chandigarh.
1

Notwithstanding this, the religious scriptures and holy books of different

religions accord a very respectable position to women. A very reasonable place to the
women, in the framework of Indian society, was assigned by Manu, a staunch believer
in the coordinated and harmonious development of human personality. 5 But we find
contradictions in the views of Manu regarding the status of women in Indian society.
Hindu mythology witnesses that the status of women during the vedic period was
honourable and respectable. The marriage was regarded as sacrosanct and the family
ideal was high. The women on marriage acquired an honuorable position and
considerable status. But in reality, crime against women, in different forms, is prevalent
in all societies. The Women started losing status in society during post-Vedic period
which she attained in the Vedic age. She lost her independence. She became a subject
for protection. 6
Sri Guru Nanak Dev, the first Guru of Sikhs, held women in a very high
esteem. He condemned man-made notion of the inferiority of women, and protested
against their long subjugation. Guru Nanak Dev Ji conveys his message as follows:

"Man is born from a woman; within woman, man is conceived; to a woman he is

engaged and married. Man is friend with woman; through woman, the future
generations exist. When his woman passes away, he seeks another woman; to a
woman a man is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From a
woman, woman is born; without woman there would be no one at all" (Guru
Granth Sahib Ji, 473).7

Guru Amar Das Ji also condemned the wearing of the veil, and
female infanticide. The steps Sikh Gurus took to advocate the equality of women
revolutionized the tradition of Indian society. As women began to partake in social,
religious and political affairs, their contribution and worth as equal partners of men
became more obvious. The Gurus taught that men and women are equal in the eyes of
God, so are equal in rights on the Earth.8
2

The contradictory attitudes expressed about in classical texts

persist in contemporary society. On the one hand, they are regarded as the highest
embodiment of purity and power a symbol of religiousness and spirituality, on the
other, they are viewed essentially as weak and dependent creatures. The girls are
considered necessary, but the birth of a boy is considered more desirable. 9 The social
status of women in India is a typical example of the gap between the positions and roles
accorded to them by the Constitution and the laws, and those imposed on them by the
social traditions. What is possible for women in theory is seldom within their reach, in
reality.10
The Constitution of India enjoins upon every citizen the duty to
renounce any practice derogatory of the dignity of women. The Constitution, therefore,
legalises what our scriptures prescribe as a social duty. The need to incorporate their
injunction into the Constitution of India arose due to the prevailing atmosphere in which
the women were denied their place in society and subjected to humiliation, which
reduced them to a position inferior to men. Mahatma Gandhi and a host of other leaders
connected with the freedom movement realised this and set out to liberate women in
order to enlist their valued cooperation in the all-round advancement of India. Hence,
the need to put women issues into the Constitution. 11
A society based on the demands of a rigid form of community life
implies considerable sacrifice on the part of its members, both male and female. 12 The
discrimination felt by the women in India is sanctified by the tradition and seldom
challenged by the law. In fact, women have feeble voice in formation, implementation
and interpretation of laws. According to United Nations General Assembly resolution,
violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations
between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against
women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women. 13 The
fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution have not been able to
ensure equality for women in all spheres, and the Directive Principles of State Policy
have remained merely pious words. Personal Laws based on religion and at present
3

continuing under the cover of freedom of religion hold womens lives in their octopus like
grip controlling issues of marriage, divorce, guardianship, adoption, maintenance and
property. It seems rather paradoxical in this context to state that in spite of the
shortcomings of the legal system in India, it is the law which has been and is still
expected to be an instrument of social change, strategy to free the women form
shackles of inequality and subjugation.14
II
Crime against women can take many forms like domestic violence,
sexual harassment and discrimination in family sphere. It ranges from pre-birth sex
selective foeticide to female infanticide, child marriage, female genital mutilation, rape,
sexual abuse at work place, dowry abuse, honour killings etc. A skewed sex ratio
caused by female foeticide could violently disrupt the man- women relationship
signaling the end of romance. Sentiments could well be replaced by cynicism, leading to
a decline in noble cultural traditions. It is not too late to strive to protect the nations spirit
from dehumanising.15 Rape is the worst crime against women after murder and the
maximum punishment under Indian Penal Code is life imprisonment. But since the
crime is committed in dark and lonely places it is very difficult to nab the criminals. Rape
can be with or without violence and women can be threatened into submission. 16 Rape
ravages its victim physically, mentally, socially and psychologically.
According to Sheela Saravnan, violence against women is partly a
result of gender relations that assumes men to be superior to women. Given the
subordinate status of women, much of gender violence is considered normal and enjoys
social sanction. Manifestations of violence include physical aggression, such as blows
of varying intensity, burns, attempted hanging, sexual abuse and rape, psychological
violence through insults, humiliation, coercion, blackmail, economic or emotional
threats, and control over speech and actions. A female child grows up with a constant
sense of being weak and in need of protection, whether physical social or economic.
This helplessness has led to her exploitation at almost every stage of life. These
expressions of violence take place in a man-woman relationship within the family, state
4

and society. Usually, domestic aggression towards women and girls, due to various
reasons remain hidden. Cultural and social factors are interlinked with the development
and propagation of violent behaviour. With different processes of socialisation that men
and women undergo, men take up stereotyped gender roles of domination and control,
whereas women take up that of submission, dependence and respect for authority. The
family socialises its members to accept hierarchical relations expressed in unequal
division of labour between the sexes and power over the allocation of resources. The
family and its operational unit is where the child is exposed to gender differences since
birth, and in recent times even before birth, in the form of sex-determination tests
leading to foeticide and female infanticide. The home, which is supposed to be the most
secure place, is where women are most exposed to violence. 17
Sex selective

abortions have become a significant social

phenomenon in several parts of India. It transcends all castes, class and communities
and even the North South dichotomy. The girl children become target of attack even
before they are born. These arise either out of social norms fostering son preference or
because their lives are put at stake in case they do not produce a son. Some also said
that unwanted girls ran the risk of severe ill treatment at their natal homes causing them
emotional and mental trauma. Additional threat that causes grave concern is the
development of new pre-selection techniques, such as, Electrophoresis, Ericssons
method, etc., which involve prior manipulation of the sex of the child. What will be the
future of the female race is a moot question.18
Female infanticide is a deliberate and intentional act of killing a
female child within one year of its birth either directly by using poisonous organic and
inorganic chemicals or indirectly by deliberate neglect to feed the infant by either one of
the parents or other family members or neighbours or by the midwife. It is unfortunate
that the parents also view her as a liability. This attitude is rooted in a complex set of
social, cultural, and economic factors. It is the dowry system, lack of economic
independence, social customs and traditions that have relegated the female to a

secondary status. The degree may vary but the neglect of the girl child and
discrimination goes hand-in- hand.19
After marriage, the desire to obtain security and good status for the
daughter places the brides parents in a vulnerable position where they may face
demands which bear no relation to the actual economic capacity and may reduce them
to a state of indebtedness. The present reality, according to a report of the National
Committee on the Status of Women, therefore, bears no relationship to the traditional
sanctions for this practice.20 According to Mehr Khan, no society can claim to be free of
violence against women; the only variation is in the patterns and trends that exist in
countries and regions. Specific groups of women are more vulnerable, including
minority groups, indigenous and migrant women, refugee women and those in situations
of armed conflict, women in institutions and detention, women with disabilities, female
children, and elderly women.21
Prem Singh laments that in spite of the prosperity, globalization
and education, we have failed to eliminate the violence against the women. We worship
woman as a Goddess, regard her as a mother, love her as a wife and she is most
affectionate to us as a daughter but still we commit violence against her. Every 3rd
minute, a case of violence against woman is registered in India. Every day, 50 cases of
dowry related violence are reported and every 29th minute, a woman is raped. One can
argue that why this is happening? Are not their sufficient laws to prevent such
mishappenings? Or the society is not mature enough to deal with such things. There is
no need to be surprised. Everything is there. There are laws to prevent violence against
woman, there is police to keep a check on these events and there are seminars and
symposiums to analyze the matter and make recommendation. However, on ground
level nothing seems to be working. 22 What does the International Womens Day means
for millions of girls in India who cannot attend or finish school because they have to
graze cattle, labour in the house or fields, or sexually harassed or humiliated? 23

According to a survey conducted by Thomson Reuters Trustlaw

Women, a hub of legal information and support for womens rights, there is a high
incidence of female foeticide, infanticide and human trafficking prevalent in India. The
survey has placed India as the fourth most dangerous place for women in the world.
The CBI has estimated that in 2009 about 90 per cent of trafficking took place within the
country and that there were three million prostitutes, of which 40 percent were children.
Other forms of exploitation include forced labour and forced marriage. In India up to 50
million girls were thought to be missing over the past century due to female infanticide
and foeticide.24
Mehr Khan opines that domestic violence is a health, legal,
economic, educational, developmental, and above all, a human rights issue. Much has
been done to create awareness and demonstrate that change is not only necessary, it is
also possible. Now that strategies for dealing with it are becoming clearer, there is no
excuse for inaction.

25

Desai & Thakkar observe that gender has been coopted in the

language of all policies, but rhetoric cannot solve problems. History has constantly
emphasized the fact that the visibility of some women in the echelons of power does not
necessarily enhance the status of mass of women. 26 But there is a silver lining in the
offing. Despite the trauma, women across all classes are reporting crimes such as rape
and assault and do not feel helpless or abandoned by family or society as was the
prevalent case before. Society is changing and government is forced to take action as it
has run out of excuses such as society's mindset or class divide. 27
III
Social attitudes and institutions cannot be changed rapidly. This
process can be accelerated by deliberate and planned efforts. Responsibility for this
acceleration must be shared by the State, the community and all who believe in the
equality in the women.28 We need to rise above the so called gender divides of work
within and outside the house and break the shackles bad traditions. We need to surpass
the boundaries of regressive thinking that holds back one whole section of the society
from flourishing the way it has every right to. 29 Society has not recognised the
7

contribution of women. It is time that the invisibility and marginalisation that suffered by
women till now, gives way to the woman getting her due. The contradictions inherent in
our society wherein goddesses and cows are worshipped but living girls and women are
bereft of a respectable existence, must end. 30
According to Parikh and Garg, the social system does not seem to
have any conception or willingness to help women acquire womanhood and
personhood.

A majority of women get struck in the dilemmas of women-person

encounters. Each attempt they make to get out, only serve to suck them deeper into
confronting the interpersonal relationships surrounding their social and work roles and
into the vicious gasp of the double bends of the role processes connected to social
system and work organizations. Women are then permanently stranded at crossroads.
The question is whether they have alternative to choose the right path? The only
alternative for women is to assert themselves and initiate an individual search to
discover their own identity.

31

Kang, Neelu identifies the four strategies of women

activists by which they confront various forms of crime against the Indian women and
arouse public opinion against such abuses. The four strategies narrated by Kang are
organizational intervention, protest activities, campaigning and direct actions. Kang rues
that all the participants in the campaign are by and large, women. It is basically
oriented towards women folk as if there is no need to make the men socially aware. 32
Ishpreet Bindra considers the reservation for women in Parliament,
a futile effort, as the perfect means to womens empowerment is education and not
reservation. Reservation is more likely to bring majority of a less educated lot from the
rural areas to the platform. Lack of education makes manipulation easier. Those
women, who are educated and sincerely want to do some something for the society, will
do so even without the reservation. Reservations serve no purpose when those who are
coming forward lack the education. You might help the women to enter to the LokSabha, but then what? Chances are theyll end up as mere showpieces in the august
house. For, reservations do not change mindsets, education does.

33

But, Rajinder

Sachar feels that the reservation for women will check the muddy politics that their men
8

folk have brought about. It can lead to social consciousness in political life. The working
of this law will unleash a powerful agent of social change, gender respect and social
reforms.

34

Prem Singh also observes that, since Indian society is male dominated

society, empowerment of women does not seem an effective solution of this problem.
Results of providing representation to women in local governing bodies did not appear
fruitful. However, reservation to women in education and jobs may be more effective
than their direct participation in policy making. Women in India at this juncture don't
have capabilities to provide women a safe haven as mostly their decision making is
influenced by males. However, providing women adequate representation in parliament
and other executive bodies may help them in future in making policies oriented toward
women. 35
India faces the problem not of means, but that of will. We need to
make the society sensitive to these issues. It is the education of girls which is required.
We need to educate the society as a whole - all men, all women, all children, adults and
elderly. The key lies in education. Education empowers and allows one to spread ones
wings to take decisions which are ones own. It also increases their access to health
care, reduces maternal mortality rates and leads to an overall development of the
family, society and country as Mao Zedong famously proclaimed, Women hold up half
the sky.36 Women need equal rights to avail an opportunity and for that matter the right
to fight for an opportunity rather than having equal number of opportunities. If women
are allowed to go out and find out opportunities like every boy and every man in this
country, there will be no need for anyone to serve opportunities to them on a platter. A
woman is capable enough to find her way, just make her free to choose it for once. The
problem is not with lesser opportunities for women in this country. The problem lies with
the fact that women are not free to avail these opportunities. She is capable enough to
find her way. The need is to make her free to make her choice. 37
The goal of transforming patriarchal power relations, ending
violence against women and constructing egalitarian society may well sound Utopian 38
but that is need of the hour The Union Cabinets approval of the Protection of the
9

Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010 is welcome. But

surprisingly domestic help has been left out of the ambit of the Bill. This un fortunate
because they are the most exploited lot by their masters. When the Bill is tabled in the
Parliament, members cutting across party lines should debate the various provisions
thoroughly and brining domestic help into the ambit of the legislation. 39
Despite the rise in the number of crimes against women, the
National Commission for Women is of the view that laws such as the Protection of
Women from Domestic Violence Act, the Dowry Prohibition Act and various sections in
the Indian Penal Code are important legislative measures that provide protection and
legal remedies to women. The laws, according to Yasmin Abrar, a member of National
Commission for Women "are effective enough to protect women, but it is the lack of
awareness that is responsible for increasing crime against women. We need a major
change in the mindset of our society to deal with these issues." 40 The general inability of
women to use the law is aggravated in situations in which they have to fight the
husband or father. In the role allocation within Indian culture, these are the persons
upon whom women normally depend to handle court matters. 41 Working of the Domestic
Violence Act 2005, has revealed that its provisions have been misused by some women
to harass their innocent in-laws. Contrastingly, what would be future of an innocent
woman, who uses the provisions of Domestic Violence Act against his husband or other
members of her in-laws? Where would she go after that? What would be the future of
her married life? The Delhi High Court, observed in Harvinder Kaur v. Harmander Singh
Choudhry that introduction of constitutional law in the home is most inappropriate. It is
like introducing a bull in a china shop. It will prove to be a ruthless destroyer of the
marriage institution and all that it stands for. In the privacy of the home and the married
life neither Article 21 nor Article 14- have anyplace. 42
There is no dearth of laws and Constitutional provisions to prevent
dowry deaths but, their implementation system needs complete revamping. Moreover,
there is a visible gap between the law as it stands and the law as it operates. Legal
system needs to be made gender sensitive. Rachna Kaushalfinds many deficiencies
10

and faults in the Protection of Women from the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA
2005). The law-makers are looking upon domestic violence only as a legal problem and
are concerned more about protection and less about prevention. But laws alone
cannot be the complete solution for such problems. 43 Legislation does not percolate to
the grassroots level. And these laws will have no meaning if the male-dominated society
does not accept them and implement them. We have laws against dowry, against brideburning, against female foeticide but these crimes against women remain unchecked. 44
The larger section of victims who have used the PWDVA 2005 comprises married
women. This is an indication of its wider non-acceptance yet or non-recognition of
domestic violence in the non-marital plane. The aspirations of a woman trapped in a
murderous marriage and seeking relief from its bondage do not find reflection in any of
our laws. Irretrievable breakdown of marriage is not a ground for divorce in India. Even
as crimes against women are on the rise, the number of policewomen available to
tackle these cases is woefully inadequate. Courts also use archaic methods to settle
disputes over custody of children, marital property, return of streedhan, maintenance
which often weigh heavily against the interests of the woman.

45

As for the policy, the

government will have to consider that the womens lack of access to justice in cases of
domestic violence remains victim to structural issues of womens subordination which
gets reflected in the delivery of justice and its distance from the victim, throwing
challenges at law, justice and governance in the country. How this law reaches women
and in what context it is delivered would determine whether women have access to
justice equal citizens.46
To begin with there must be democracy in the family. The husband
and wife should work as a team with both partners having an equal say in decisionmaking. The woman must not be condemned to play the role of a maid to the man whether it is father, brother husband, father-in-law, brother-in-law or son. Society needs
to be rid of a lot of shortcomings that have only undermined the position of woman. Just
as the practice of sati has been abolished, the world would be a far better place if
people spend their time in constructive activities rather than collecting dowry for their
daughters or marrying them off during childhood and leaving them to their fate or
11

satisfying their lust by kidnapping, raping and dumping girls. The real change will be
when mans psyche undergoes a transformation and both men and women meet midway rather than the girl always making all the adjustments. 47
There should be stringent action by the state against discrimination
and violence against women.48 Special courts to try dowry and rape crimes be
established in order to afford expeditious justice to women. Inter-caste marriages, lovemarriages, increased education and employment to girls can to a limited extent help to
save the women from the disease of dowry. Speedy trials in rape cases, recording the
statements of the victims at places of their choice, investigation of cases by women
police officers and hearing of cases in most probability by women judges. Police
stations and jails need to be adequately staffed by sufficient female personnel to
prevent sexual harassment of the women in preventive and legal custody.

These

amendments will help reducing the mental agony of rape victims. Women themselves
should fight for uprooting deep-rooted prejudices that hinder them to achieve their true
potential and have a dignified existence.
Empowering women is the best answer. Any kind of violence or
harassment should be given stringent punishment. Many girls now undergo training in
self-defence like learning karate. If women become assertive much of the eve teasing
can be tackled. Maintenance of law and order, society's attitude, safety measures like
lighting in cities and towns also play a role in this. It is a matter of common knowledge
that there is a direct co-relationship between womens economic status and violence
faced by them. So, there is a need to provide economic security to women in order to
fight back domestic violence. Women should have more facilities for education, applied
sciences, professional courses and training and more career prospects and avenues of
employment. We need more women welfare organisations to make efforts at the
grassroots level for the welfare of women and development of society. 49 Education
alone will force society to change its attitude towards women. Let us not deprive our
country of greater progress by keeping the fair sex as a decoration piece only. 50
Transforming the prevailing social discrimination against women must become the top
12

priority in our policy and it must happen concurrently with increased direct action to
improve improve the socio economic status of women in India. 51
R.K. Raghavan observes very appropriately that for women in the
villages, the best protection comes from their own vigilance and alertness and a
courage to publicise atrocities through the village elders and elected officials of the
panchayat.52 Liberty lies in the heart of men and women. When it dies there, no
constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do
much to help it.53 She should strive even harder for discovering her true potential as no
society, no country, no civilization can reach its full potential unless the female half of
the humanity participates on an equal footing with the males. God has bestowed women
with immense inherent strength to fully enjoy the liberties of life as equal stake holders
of society and not as subordinate ones to their male family members. There is a great
need for awakening of women socially. Without social amelioration, political rights have
no value. One need not be a rocket scientist to understand the premise that the strength
of such a huge section of population needs to be harnessed for a strong and vibrant
nation.

Endnotes

13

1 Nirupama Prakash, Status of Women in Indian Society- Issues and Challenges in Process of Empowerment,
p.284 (www.gasat-international.org/conferences/.../proceedings%205.pdf- accessed on 18/02/2011 )
2 Neera Desai & Usha Usha, Women in Indian Society, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 2003, P. 122
3 Madanjit Kaur, Awaken Her Socially and See the Difference, The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 19, 1998.
4 Amartya Sen, Many Facse of Gender Inequality, Frontline, Vol. 18, Issue 22, October 27- November 09, 2001.
5 Ram Mohan Das, Women in Manus Philosophy, ABS Publications, Jalandhar, 1993, P.1.
6 Nirupama Prakash, Op. Cit. pp. 282-284.
7 http://www.realsikhism.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1248311765&ucat=7- Accessed on
16/03/2011.
8 Ibid.
9 Nirupama Prakash, Op. Cit. P. 285
10 Status of Women in India, A Synopsis of the Report of National Committee on the Status of Women (197174), The Indian Council of Social Sciences Research, New Delhi, 1988, p. 13.
11 Rashmi Sharma, Educating a women Means Educating a Family, The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 19, 1998.
12 Bela Rani Sharma, Women: Marriage, Family, Violence & Divorce, Mangal Deep Publications, Jaipur, 1997,
p.40
13 General Assembly Resolution 48/104 of 20 December 1993.
14 Neera Desai & Usha Thakkar, Op. Cit., P. 122.
15 Rajan Kashyap, Unsafe Inside and Outside the Womb, The Tribune, Jalandhar, February
13, 2011.
16 M.J. Antony, Womens Rights, Clarion Books, Delhi, 1989, p.101.
17 Sheela Saravanan, Violence against Women: A Literature Review, Institute of Social Studies Trust, March
2000, P.1.

18 Sneh Lata Tandon, & Renu Sharma, Female Foeticide and Infanticide In India: An Analysis of Crime Against
Girl Child, International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, Vol. 1 Issue 1, January 2006, pp. 2-3.
19 Ibid.
20 Status of Women in India, Op. Cit. p. 25.
21 Mehr Khan, Domestic Violence Against Women and Girls, Innocenti Digest, UNICEF, No. 6, June 2000, P.
3.
22 Prem Singh, Multifaceted Violence Against Women in India, (http://hubpages.com/hub/Violence-againstwomen-in-India- accessed on 24/01/2011)
23 Indu Swami, Empowering Women: Celebrate the Past, Plan for Future, The Tribune, Jalandhar, March 8,
2010.
24 The Tribune, June 16, 2011, Jalandhar.
25 Mehr Khan, Op. Cit., P. 2
26 Neera Deasi & Usha Thakkar, Op. Cit., P. xi.
27 http://www.azadindia.org/social-issues/crime-against-women-in-india.html- accessed on 25/11/2010.
28 Status of Women India, Op. Cit., p. 38.
29 Ishpreet Bindra, Empowering the Women, Need of the Hour Education, Not Reservations, (http://www.
educationmaster.org/news/indian-women-need-hour-education-not-reservation.html- accessed on 15/09/2010)
30 Pam Rajput, Give us Equality and Respect, The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 19, 1998.
31 Indira J. Parikh & Pullin K. Garg, Indian Women: An Inner Dialogue, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 1989,
p. 157.
32 Neelu Kang, Indian women Activists, B.R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi, 1997, p. 102-121.
33 Ishpreet Bindra, Op. Cit.

34 Rajinder Sachar, On the Road to Equality: Womens Quota Bill can Cause Social Change, The Tribune,
Jalandhar, March 13, 2010.
35 Prem Singh, Op. Cit.
36 Lop Sided Growth: Women Lag in Education (editorial), The Tribune, April 19, 2011.
37 Ishpreet Bindra, Op. Cit.
38 Ash Narain Roy, Roar of Lioness: Womens Empowerment in Africa, The Tribune, Jalandhar, November 7,
2010.
39 Protecting Career Women: Bill to Prevent Sexual Harassment at Officer, The Tribune, Jalandhar, November
8, 2010.
40 Richa Sharma, Homes not safe for Indian women any more (http://www.igovernment.in/site/Home-not-safefor-Indian-women-any-more- accessed on 02/01/2011)
41 Indu Swami, Op. Cit.
42 Harvinder Kaur vs Harmander Singh Choudhry, AIR 1984 Delhi 66.
43 Rachna Kaushal, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005- An appraisal, Mainstream, Vol.
XXVIII, No. 11, march 6, 2010.
44 M.L. Kak, Adam for Field Eve for Hearth no Longer Relevant: We Have to Change the Patriarchal system,
The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 19, 1998.
45 Tejdeep Kaur Menon, Crime Against Women: Violence within and Without, The Hindu, New Delhi,
September 1, 2002.
46 Sandeep Joshi, Protecting Women from Domestic Violence, The Tribune, March 19, 2011.
47 Oshima Raikhy, Mans Psyche Must Change, The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 19, 1998.
48 Anisha Padhee, Power to Resist, Frontline, Vol. 27, Issue 7, March 27-April 09, 2010.
49 Madanjit Kaur, Op. Cit.

50 M.L., Kak, Op.Cit.

51 Muthalagu K., Indian Women in Development Perspective, Kurukshetra, Vol 56 (11), September 2008, pp.
18-22.
52 R.K. Raghavan, Crime Against Women, Frontline, Vol. 21, Issue , January 17-30, 2004.
53 Nishtha Jaswal, Role of the Supreme Court with regard to Right to Life and Personal Liberty, Ashish
Publishing House, New Delhi, 1990, p. 111.