Gurpinder Kumar
Assistant Professor
Centre for Women’s Studies
University of Allahabad
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Abstract
Contemporary India is a multicultural society that is plural in terms of religious law. As there are many religions, there are many personal laws that govern many people from different religions. The term “personal law” includes Scriptural injunction and general customs associated with a particular religion. Personal religious laws refer to the standards governing marriage planning and their deterioration; various rights, obligations and marital restrictions; communication between caregivers and children. These laws describe anecdotes about lifestyle, habits, beliefs and qualities that help shape our perceptions about where we are, where we come from, and where we are going. Each religion has its own rules, for example, Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Jains, Christians, and so on. There is no common public code in India. Women have fewer rights than men under the rules of religious religion. Personal religious laws present many reductions; for example man centric society, early marriage, assignment, aggressive behavior at home, and so on. The whole community has made its own decisions about women. The status of women is alarmingly alarming as these laws reflect women in lower positions than men. As a theory, “gender inequality” refers to the undeniable or hidden divisions among people as a result of sexual orientation. This paper aims to highlight the status of women in Hindu and Islamic religious laws and to provide an overview of the implications of such human laws on women’s lives. To achieve the purpose of this paper, extensive research has been done and analysis has been documented. First, the origins of the concept of personal religious law and its Government-designated modification are covered and properly defined. The current status of women in religious laws is reflected in the fact that the formation of personal religious laws has the effect of the formation and breadth of other laws. The effects of such laws on the lives of women of all walks of life are enshrined. This paper further set out and analyzes the current state of personal laws regarding Indian women and the same has been discussed in light of existing laws and criminal laws.
Keywords: Gender, Religion, Personal laws, Women, Inequality.
