Legal Advocacy for Women's Rights

In the private sector, Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) for sexual harassment are often ineffective because members fear retaliation from management. I share the story of an ICC chairperson who was terminated after finding a senior executive guilty, which prompted me to file a PIL to ensure these committees can function without fear.

Every woman must be aware of the laws designed to protect her. This includes rights against unlawful arrest, protections under the Domestic Violence Act, the anti-dowry law (Section 498A), and laws against stalking and workplace harassment. Knowing your rights is the first step to claiming them.

Outside the Supreme Court with a former law intern after a hearing for our PIL on strengthening Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) under the PoSH Act. It is a long journey to ensure women are safe at their workplace, but every step in the highest court brings us closer to that goal.

With my Advocate on Record, Munawar Naseem, at the Supreme Court. We appeared to argue for our PIL seeking to make Internal Complaints Committees in the private sector independent and free from corporate pressure. This is crucial for ensuring fair redressal for women facing workplace harassment.

Speaking at Oxford University about the grim reality of dowry in India. Despite the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, thousands of women are killed every year. I explain how these murders are often disguised as "accidental kitchen fires" and how police corruption prevents the law from being effective.

The debate on criminalizing marital rape is complex. While I am a fierce advocate for women's rights, as a lawyer, I must also consider the practical challenges of proving such a case within the four walls of a home. The discussion needs to focus on how to establish evidence without creating a law that could be difficult to implement fairly.

The Domestic Violence Act is a powerful tool that gives women the right to live with dignity in their shared household. I explain how the law protects a woman from being thrown out of her home and how police corruption, not the law itself, is often the reason for its misuse.

The statistics are horrifying: every day, 23 married women in India die due to dowry-related violence, often reported as "kitchen fires." I discuss how Section 498A was created to prevent these deaths and argue that misuse of the law by a few should not discredit its importance for countless genuine victims.

A screenshot of a Hindustan Times article covering our PIL to strengthen the probe mechanism for PoSH complaints. I have always said I am the voice of the silenced women, and this legal battle is a testament to that commitment.