Property Rights of Women in Contemporary India

Abstract

Property Rights of Women has since long been a critical area of debate and dispute in India. Women Empowerment and changes in gender stereotypes have in the last decade lead to a paradigm shift in the status of women. The concept of property and legal status of women in particular has evolved reflecting changing trends in rights and remedies available to women. While Uniform Civil Code continues to be a Constitutional endeavour as Directive Principle, Property laws for women in general are based on both personal and secular laws. Women in ancient times had limited property rights mostly in the nature of Stridhan, Mahr, Gifts. In contrast, today women enjoy complete rights of ownership and possession in property as an individual including rights in property of parents irrespective of matrimonial status. This book in the form of a compendium of chapters is a tribute to this positive judicial and legal change. Editors have tried to bring together perspectives from academicians, scholars, advocates and other legal professionals with expertise in the area of Family and Property Law.