In this episode, legal activist Prita Jha talks to us about the problems with implementation of  laws pertaining to violence against women and child sexual abuse.

‘In Perspective’ is The Swaddle’s podcast series where academics reveal little-known facts about Indian history, society and culture. 

Notes: 

00:00:56:12- You’re written about how the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act is a groundbreaking piece of legislation. What kind of legal and social activism went into passing this law, and what were some of the public debates around it?

00:08:17:16- Is a lack of awareness the cause for the difference inaccess to protections of the law in urban and rural areas? 

00:09:19:11- There’s a gap between the progressive nature of the law, and the judiciary’s understanding and application of it. What are some constraints with the judiciary’s application of the law? 

00:11:58:23- Where does the notion that dowry law can be misused by women in false cases against their husbands and in-laws come from? Is there any research or data to back this notion? Are there problems with how we legally define what a false case is?

00:20:31:06- What are some problems with criminalizing consensual sexual activity among adolescents? How do we address this complicated issue? 

00:25:44:18- Is the law which was intended to address child sexual abuse being used by parents of girls to protect them even from consensual adolescent relationships?  

00:26:55:02- Do we have the legal frameworks and protections in place to address the way that domestic violence played out during the Covid-19 lockdown?