In Hema Vijay Menon v. State of Maharashtra, Hema Vijay Menon, a government lecturer, lost her only son and later chose to become a mother again through surrogacy after unsuccessful IVF attempts. When she applied for maternity leave under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1981, the government denied the request, stating that the rules did not provide for maternity leave in cases of surrogacy.
In the case Kakkad v. Dubey, a man had attempted to have vaginal intercourse with an eight-year-old girl. Although medical evidence showed that her hymen was intact and there was no full penetration, the Supreme Court held that even the slightest penetration is sufficient to constitute rape under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code as it stood at the time. The Court emphasized that the rupture of the hymen or visible injuries are not necessary to prove the offense.
In Khurana and Others v. Union of India and Others, the Cine Costume Make-up Artists and Hair Dressers Association of Mumbai, registered as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act, 1926, maintained by-laws that barred qualified women make-up artists from membership solely on the basis of sex. Ms. Charu Khurana, whose application for membership was rejected, challenged the prohibition as a violation of her constitutional rights to equality, employment, and livelihood.
In Kishangiri Mangalgiri Goswami v. State of Gujarat, a man convicted in part under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code appealed his conviction for abetting his wife’s suicide. Evidence showed a history of dowry-related abuse, including his demand for an additional 40,000 rupees from his wife and her family before she died by self-immolation.
In Danial Latifi v. Union of India, the Supreme Court addressed the constitutional validity of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 (MWPRDA), which appeared to limit a Muslim husband’s obligation to maintain his divorced wife to the iddat period, after which responsibility would shift to her relatives.
Lessons Learnt and Experiences Gained in the UNFPA Supported WPC Project on Addressing Sex Selection documents a three-year project (2008–2011) in India in which the Women Power Connect (WPC) examined the factors contributing to and strategies for addressing the rise in sex selection. The project established a systematic approach that included partnering with multiple local-level implementing organizations to collect data, raise education and awareness, and develop sustained programs aimed at changing traditional practices that lead to gender-biased sex selection.
In Mandal v. Deen Dayal Harinagar Hospital, a public interest litigation was filed urging the Indian government to address high levels of maternal mortality. The Court ordered the government to end discriminatory practices in programs aimed at reducing maternal mortality, to report on corrective measures for monitoring and improving those programs, and to create additional programs if needed.
In Md. Kalam v. State of Bihar, the appellant, convicted of assaulting a six-year-old girl, challenged his 10-year sentence, arguing that the child victim’s testimony should not have been accepted without corroboration and that the sentence was excessive. The Court held that a child’s testimony is admissible if carefully evaluated. Both the trial court and the High Court had assessed the evidence and found it reliable.
Ms. Shah Bano Begum was married to a lawyer named Mr. Mohd. Ahmed Khan. They lived together for 43 years and had five children. In 1978, Mr. Khan threw Ms. Begum out of the shared household and Ms. Begum applied for maintenance from Mr. Khan under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (Cr.P.C, 1973). Pending her application, Mr. Khan dissolved the marriage by pronouncing a triple talaq (divorce on the triple utterance of the word “talaq” by a Muslim husband) and paid Ms.
The trial court convicted the appellant of murdering her brother-in-law, which the High Court confirmed. On appeal, the Supreme Court found that the trial court based its conviction solely on the appellant's confession to killing the deceased with a katari (type of dagger). However, the appellant also stated that the deceased had attacked and attempted to rape her before she grabbed the katari and used it in self-defense.
