Recent amendments in the Laws pertaining to crimes against women: An overview

The National Crime Records Bureau has reported a steep rise in the number of crimes against women and children in recent times, despite many laws in our country pertaining to crimes against women, thus demanding for the amendments from time to time.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006, is a step towards safeguarding women against ill treatment at the hands of their husbands and in-laws and other male members of the family. Compulsory registration of marriage is another step to improve the status of women in the society. Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 removes the gender discriminatory provision in the original Act of 1956 and gives equal right to daughters with respect to inheritance claims. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 now incorporates changes regarding the place where the termination of pregnancy can be done, and punishments for violation of the given provisions. The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, was amended in 2002 to prohibit any kind of tests for detection of sex before or after conception.

Many amendments have also been made in the laws relating to sexual offences, especially regarding detailed procedure of examination of victim and accused to include examination of blood, blood stains, semen and swabs in addition to physical examination and to provide for inquest by Judicial Magistrate in cases of murder following rape. Sexual harassment at work place has been made punishable by the Vishaka Guidelines. Cyber crime, sending objectionable messages (SMS), etc are also being brought in to the ambit of law.