Low of Women under the Penal Code:
Women are not strong enough like a man as a result they may fall victim to intense abuse from man, this is where the need of law for women comes to play its role to protect women rights. Women’s several rights and protection of law have been established in the Penal Code (Act no. 45 of 1860) and jurisdiction is given to the criminal courts. The following provisions are available in the penal code for the protection of women:
Section 366- kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage,
Section 372 – selling minor for the purpose of prostitution etc.
Section 372- buying minor for the purpose of prostitution etc.
Section 375- rape,
Section 376- punishment of rape (punishment of rape goes to Nari-O- Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain-2000),
Section 312- causing miscarriage,
Section 313- causing miscarriage without women’s consent,
Section 314- death caused by act done with intent to cause carriage, if act done without women’s consent,
Section 493- cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage,
Section 494- marrying again during life time of husband and wife,
Section 495- some offence with concealment of favor marriage from person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted,
Section 446- marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage,
Section 497- adultery,
Section 498- enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman,
Section 509- word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
These protection of women by the penal code runs in corroboration with Cr.P.C. 1898, Evidence Act, 1872 and some other criminal laws. In our social context, these laws do not run in its full rhythm.
