Study of Legal Rights of Non-Working Women and Gender Discrimination in District Kangra of Himachal Pradesh

Equality to all is grunted by the constitution of India irrespective of sex, caste, colour, language, religion and region. The constitution also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. In 1950, when the Indian Constitution was passed, Articles 15, 16 and 39 stressed on the equality of sexes and empowered the government both for preventing discrimination against women and undertaking affirmative action to improve their status. The constitution provides equal rights and opportunities for both men and women in all spheres of life. The Hindu Marriage Act of 1953 and the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 are considered as landmark to protect rights of Women in India. Equal rights are given to women but equality may not be implemented. Various factors which are responsible in implementation of laws and policies to address gender discrimination, violence and crime against women are patriarchal structure, restricted mobility of women and girls, less access to education, health facilities, lower decision-making power and higher rates of violence. The present paper is empirical in nature and will highlight the discrimination of non-working women in legal sphere in Himachal Pradesh. This paper will also suggest remedial measures to prevent gender discrimination.