Women Laws: Shield or Sword with Special Reference to India

The condition of women deteriorated in the Indian society over the years subjecting them to a patriarchal mindset, cruelty and other forms of inhumane and unjust treatment. Taking this into mind the Legislature and the Judiciary took positive steps towards curbing this social evil by enacting various effective laws and laying down guidelines, observations and recommendations respectively. Various Women Centric Laws were enacted for the protection of women from various evils prevailing in the society. These evils included that of dowry, cruelty, domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, outraging the modesty of women, etc. These laws were set up as a shield to protect their respect and dignity against crime that is committed against them. However, in the recent years, the data shows that several cases that are filed by women against men pertaining to crime against women are false and are filed in a fit of anger, over trivial fights or in order to blackmail the men to gain some unfair advantage. This article discusses about various women laws along with the data showing the need of such laws. This article further discusses about misuse of such laws where the women are using these laws as a sword for their benefit and the observations and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and High Court in this regard.