Legislative Measures

Special legislation has been enacted to ensure equality for women in all spheres. The State has enacted these women-specific and women-related laws to protect women against social discrimination, violence and atrocities and also to prevent social evils like child marriages, dowry, rape and the practice of Sati.

Important Social Legislation relating to Women

1. Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
2. The Special Marriage Act, 1954
3. Hindu Succession Act, 1956
4. Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956
5. The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 1976
6. The Factories Act, 1948, Mines Act, 1952 and Plantation Labour Act, 1951
7. The Employee State Insurance Act, 1948
8. The Maternity Benefits Act, 1961
9. The Factories (Amendment) Act, 1976
10. The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
11. The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abortion) Act, 1976
12. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
13. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
14. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1986
15. Amendments to Criminal Laws
16. Family Courts
17. Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
18. The Commission on Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987