Daughter -in-law BEWARE. Toxic in-laws come in an assorted package of various species and colours. You’ll have to learn to protect yourself. We teach you to empower yourself as a Daughter-in-law to hold the reins and take command.
The Constitution of India under Article 15(3) clearly states to make any special provision for woman and children. It is one of the authority documents that lays emphasis regarding the position of a Daughter-in-law and puts her at par in the race.
- Right to live a torture free life – physical as well as mental torture. The Domestic Violence Act, 2005, not only makes Domestic Violence a ground to seek Divorce but also embodies to execute a bond by the Husband in favour of the wife to keep the peace and good behavior intact. The Magistrate can order the Husband and in-laws to end the Domestic Violence. More so, the Husband can be asked to deposit certain sum of money or property as security, which can be redeemed by the wife as a coupon against the acts of mis-behaviour and violence.
- All homo-sapiens have a right to live with dignity and self-respect…of course yes, this includes the daughter-in-law. Every Daughter-in-law has a right to the same life style as her Husband and in-laws.
- Right to Residence- ‘A house is made with walls and beams, and a home is made with love and dreams’, is a common proverb. Every woman has a right to reside in her matrimonial home. It could owned by the Husband or his parents, ancestral or joint family house or even a rented property, etc, a Daughter-in-law is entitled to reside in it, whether she owns it or not.
- Right to Maintenance- In ancient times the women were treated as property of men and hence were treated as economically reliant on their Husband for not just their lavish splurges but even their bare expenses which include the food, clothing & shelter. In the new age era of today where the women have reached the stars…and we mean literally traveled through the space courtesy the NASA…the right to maintenance still holds true in every way possible. Decent living standard and comforts are the primary rights that any wife is entitled to by her husband. These are enlisted under section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.
- Right to Streedhan- under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, ‘streedhan’ is construed as all Hindu women, who receive any kind of property,money, jewellery, movable or immovable, etc at the time of her marriage(during the course of marriage and after like child birth, other ceremonial occasions, etc), though not given as dowry but voluntary gifts not only by her own parents but also by her in-laws. Such a practice prevails to ive the woman a sense of financial protection which can not be denied even after separation from the Husband.
- As per section 3 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 denial of the streedhan to the wife amounts to economic abuse and the Husband and in-laws are made liable to punishment.
- As per section 405 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 when the wife entrusts her streedhan to the husband or the in-laws and the same are mis-appropriated dishonestly, it amounts to being liable for and committing Criminal Breach of Trust.
- As per section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 a Hindu woman’s right to her streedhan makes her the absolute owner of the same. Insipite of it being placed under the custody of her Husband or in-laws, she can demand it back and they are bound to return the same to her and are deemed to be only trustees of the same and not owners.
- Right to committed relationship is guarded by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and empowers the woman to end the marriage on the grounds of ‘Adultery’ as per section 13 of the said act. For the marriage to continue happily, both the parties need to have a lasting commitment as the main ingredient.
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