India has diverse legal remedies against discrimination on the place of employment but this is not an exhaustive regime. This includes the following key laws and constitutional provisions: Constitutional Provisions: Article 14: Equity before the law Article 15: Bans discrimination based on religion,Read more
India has diverse legal remedies against discrimination on the place of employment but this is not an exhaustive regime. This includes the following key laws and constitutional provisions:
Constitutional Provisions:
Article 14: Equity before the law
Article 15: Bans discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of a person’s birth.
Specific Laws:
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976: Equality for women at the workplace-whereas every man is paid for the same work he does every woman is also paid the same for the work she does.
-The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act): Of particular note is prevention of sexual harassment of women at workplace and mandatory setting of Internal Complaints Committees.
-The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Gives civil rights to people with disabilities and safeguards them against employment and all other types of discrimination.
Other Relevant Laws:
-Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: It helps to ensure that the oppressed sections are not discriminated or victimized in one or other way.
-Maternity Benefit Act, 1961: It safeguards the women employees right to maternity.
Despite these laws, there are still issues that exist:
Lack of Overall Legislation: Currently, there doesn’t exist a general code that focuses on the act of discriminating employees in their workplace with the exception of discrimination based on sexual preferences.
Challenges in Implementation: To enforce these laws, particularly in the informal sectors is rather difficult.
-Social and Cultural Barriers: More often, ideological prejudice at the societal and cultural level is the biggest hindrance for the right enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.
However, all these aspects can be enhanced with enhanced awareness, better enforcement of laws and future legislative changes to enhance the conditions of the Indian workplace to make them suitable for SC/STs and women.
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The Indian Divorce Act of 1869 was initially passed for the purpose of governing Christian marriages, though over the years it became lumme to other people of other religious beliefs who converted to Christianity. However, one must recognize certain problems rise regarding its admissibility in curreRead more
The Indian Divorce Act of 1869 was initially passed for the purpose of governing Christian marriages, though over the years it became lumme to other people of other religious beliefs who converted to Christianity. However, one must recognize certain problems rise regarding its admissibility in current family structures and religious cross-corporation marriage.
Application of the Act to Modern Family Dynamics:
Mutual Consent Divorce: To suite modern society, the Act has been amended and sections added that deals with divorce through consent of both parties involved.
-Grounds for Divorce: According to the Act the grounds for divorce include adultery, cruelty, desertion, and unsound mind and these can be incorporate into the present scenario.
-Custody and Maintenance: This act provides for the care, upbringing and support of children and spouse with reference to the welfare of the child and income earning ability of both parties.
Handling Cross-Religious Marriages:
-Limited Applicability: However, the Act can only operate in cross religious marriage where either of the party or both are Christians, it may then be weak in other religions.
-Personal Laws: If one or both of them are not Christian the party may apply their respective individual laws allowing the dissolution of marriage, which can create confusion and probably conflict.
-Uniform Civil Code: Remove multiplicity of laws by implementing a law that upholds a single law for all that will apply to all religions. The issues resulting from cross-religious marriage might be addressed and a better solution can be proposed.
Even if some of the complications resulting out of the present day kinship system and inter-religious marriages have been addressed through Indian Divorce Act, the process of reform covers a long path to go to match up to the contemporary requirement. The thought a Uniform Civil Code may be having a superior proposition to handle the problem of marital disputes in the country.
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