The panellists and audience however, seemed to be upset over the fact that there is no fundamental right in the constitution against discrimination at work place.
Read what you sign, make a will and know that there is a law to protect you — these were some nuggets of wisdom to take home from the panel discussion on law and women at the Women’s Day Conclave, organised by the Ladies’ wing of the Indian Merchants Chamber and supported by DNA.
On the occasion of Women’s Day, law professionals sat before a crowd, largely comprising of women and discussed provisions, benefits and loopholes in the country’s laws. While Supreme Court advocate Rani Jethmalani, tax law specialist Shobha Jagtiani and international law practitioner Poorvi Chothani educated the audience about the law, artist Kahini Arte-Merchant and Editor of Me, Sathya Saran took the common man’s stand and posed questions to the legal eagles.
“How many of you don’t read documents before you sign them?” Chothani asked the audience. While a handful of honest women raised their hands, others hesitated. The panellists emphasised the importance of being aware of one’s possessions and making and understanding a will. Jagtiani said that changes made in the Hindu Marriage Act have given women equal rights of inheritance and therefore it was important for them to be aware of their entitlements.
Jethmalani, who flew down from Delhi, called the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 as a path-breaking statute. She said that it gave women protection from physical, mental and emotional abuse from their family members. It also provides immediate relief in terms of protection and interim compensation, she added. The panellists and audience however, seemed to be upset over the fact that there is no fundamental right in the constitution against discrimination at work place.
Arte-Merchant pointed out that the media should spread awareness regarding such laws and make them more accessible to women across the country. The audience was itching to ask more questions, however, the one-hour session was wrapped up after a commendable exchange of knowledge. A large number of women NGO workers, corporate employees, artists and senior citizens had gathered at the NCPA to mark the Women’s Day.
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