- personal law debates

PERSONAL LAW DEBATES

Saheli’s work in crisis intervention brought to the fore many questions on the impact of religion on women, the discriminations inherent in all personal laws, the reality behind the secular state and the relevance of secularism and secular laws in the lives of women. In matters of divorce, guardianship, property, inheritance and other rights within the family, the rights of women were abridged by personal laws in myriad ways. Yet working towards an egalitarian civil code was not a straight-forward task in times marked by rising right wing Hindu revivalism, and growing majority/minority tensions. With debates and discussions, leaflets and the performance of a street play titled, Farq, we reached out to visibilise the issue and challenge the State and conservatives alike. But the Shah Bano controversy, the right-wing demand for a uniform civil code based on the Hindu law, the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the rise of communal parties - all brought new challenges and made it near impossible to further the debates on women’s rights of women with respect to personal laws. A situation furthered worsened by the State converting what is essentially an issue of equality for women into an issue of religious freedom and identity. Over the years, our engagement has been with both, efforts in the movement to reform personal laws as well as the continuing struggle for egalitarian rights for all women.

ARTICLES

SECOND SAHELI SUBMISSION ON LAW COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRE ON UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

JULY 2018

LBT RESPONSE TO LAW COMMISSION ON UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

JULY 2018

TRIPLE TALAQ. THE BAN AND THE BILL. DEBATES AND UPDATES.

Newsletter Mar – Aug 2018STARTING NEW FIRES UNDER OLD POTS-THE LAW COMMISSION AND SUPREME COURT RE-IGNITE THE UCC DEBATE

Newsletter Apr 2016 – Jul 2017

FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND THE STATE: FEMINIST DIALOGUES ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Newsletter Sep 2014 - Aug 2015

FAMILY AND MARRIAGE: QUESTIONS THAT REFUSE TO REST IN PEACE

Newsletter Sep 2011 – Apr 2012