CONTENTS

Certificates .. i-vi
Acknowledgement .. vii-viii
Abbreviations .. ix-x
List of Cases .. xi-xiii
Preface .. xiv

Page No.
Chapter-1 INTRODUCTION .. 1-18
1.1 Introduction .. 1
1.1.1 Meaning of the Word Woman .. 2
1.1.2 Definition of Crime .. 3
1.1.3 Relevance of Study .. 5
1.1.4 The Theory of female Criminality .. 6
1.1.5 Female Criminality in India .. 8
1.2 Literature Review .. 10
1.3 Aims and Objective .. 15
1.4 Hypothesis .. 15
1.5 Research Questions .. 15
1.6 Research Methodology .. 16
1.7 Chapter Scheme .. 17
Chapter-2 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN .. 19-59
CRIMINALITY
2.1 Introduction .. 19
2.2 Ancient Era .. 20
2.3 Medieval Era .. 21
2.4 Modern Era .. 21
2.5 Nature and Pattern of the Crimes Committed .. 26
2.6 Concept of Crime .. 33
2.7 Causes of Female Criminality .. 35
2.8 Early Theories on Female Criminality .. 40
2.8.1 Biological Theory .. 40
2.8.2 Psychological Theory .. 45
2.8.3 Economic Theory of Criminality .. 47

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 2.8.4 Anomie’s Theory .. 48
2.8.5 The Theory of Labeling .. 49
2.8.6 Theory of Differential Opportunity/ .. 50
Learning Theory
2.8.7 Control Theory .. 52
2.8.7.1 Direct control .. 55
2.8.7.2 Stake in conformity .. 55
2.8.7.3 Internal control .. 55
2.8.8 Theory of Masculinity .. 56
2.8.9 The Theory of Role .. 56
2.8.10 Feminist Theory .. 57
2.8.11 The Theory of Social Bond .. 57
2.9 Conclusion .. 58
Chapter-3 PROTECTION OF WOMEN UNDER INDIAN .. 60-119
LEGISLATIONS
3.1 Introduction .. 60
3.1.1 Violence against Women .. 61
3.2 Constitutional Provisions .. 63
3.2.1 The Preamble .. 63
3.2.2 Fundamental Rights .. 64
3.2.2.1 Women reservation .. 66
3.2.2.2 Women reservation in panchayat .. 67
and municipalities
3.2.3 Women Protection through Judicial .. 68
Pronouncements
3.2.3.1 A woman shall not be denied a .. 68
job merely because she is a
woman
3.2.3.2 Denial of seniority promotion on .. 69
the ground of sex
3.2.3.3 Beauty contests-whether violation .. 69
of constitutional provisions
3.2.3.4 Woman’s right to make .. 70
reproductive choice
3.2.3.5 “Honour Killings”- Come within .. 70
the “rarest of rare” category
3.2.3.6 In Cyril Britto v. Union of India .. 71

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 3.2.3.7 Indian Young Lawyers .. 71
Association Case
3.2.3.8 Government of A.P. v. P.B. .. 72
Vijaykumar
3.2.3.9 Vijay Laxmi v. Punjab University .. 72
3.2.4 Women and Directive Principles of State .. 73
Policy
3.2.5 Contribution of Judiciary in Protection of .. 74
Women under DPSP
3.2.6 Uniform Civil Code .. 76
3.2.7 Fundamental Duties .. 77
3.3 Women and Criminal Law .. 78
3.3.1 Protection of Women under IPC .. 78
3.3.1.1 Definition of rape .. 78
3.3.1.2 Types of rape offences .. 79
3.3.1.3 Protection against two finger test .. 80
3.3.1.4 Criminal Law (Second .. 80
Amendment) Act, 1983
3.3.1.5 172nd Law Commission Report .. 81
3.3.1.6 Criminal Law (Amendment) .. 81
Act, 2013
3.3.1.7 Criminal Law (Amendment) .. 82
Act, 2018
3.3.1.8 Privacy right .. 82
3.3.1.9 Eve teasing .. 82
3.3.1.10 Section 294 of the IPC .. 83
3.3.1.11 Section 509 of the IPC .. 83
3.3.1.12 Modesty (IPC Sections 354 & .. 83
509)
3.3.1.13 Section 354 of the IPC .. 83
3.3.1.14 Section 509 of the IPC .. 84
3.3.1.15 Section 304B of the Indian .. 84
Penal Code, 1860
3.3.1.16 Adultery .. 84
3.3.1.17 Cruelty .. 85
3.3.2 Protection of women under Cr.P.C. .. 85
3.3.2.1 The right to be free of arrest .. 86

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 3.3.2.2 The right to non-appearance at .. 86
police station
3.3.2.3 Postponement of capital .. 86
sentence on pregnant woman
3.3.2.4 Bail provision .. 86
3.3.2.5 Maintenance .. 88
3.3.3 Protection of Women in Indian Evidence .. 91
Act
3.3.3.1 Right to character .. 91
3.3.3.2 Questions in cross examination .. 91
3.3.3.3 Right to presumption .. 91
3.4 The Crimes Identified under the Special Local .. 92
Laws (SLL)
3.4.1 The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 .. 93
3.4.2 The Protection of Women from Domestic .. 95
Violence Act, 2005
3.4.3 The Sexual Harassment of Women at .. 98
Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and
Redressal) Act, 2013
3.4.4 The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights .. 101
on Marriage) Act, 2019
3.4.5 The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights .. 103
on Divorce) Act, 1986
3.4.6 The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1986 .. 106
3.5 Personal Laws in India .. 107
3.5.1 Hindu Personal Law .. 107
3.5.1.1 Succession of property by Hindu .. 107
women
3.5.1.2 Child custody rights of women .. 108
3.5.1.3 Hindu law on divorce .. 108
3.5.2 Muslim Personal Law .. 109
3.5.2.1 Succession of property by Muslim .. 109
women
3.5.2.2 Rights of women under Muslim .. 110
law
3.5.2.3 Muslim law on divorce .. 110
3.5.3 Christian Personal Law .. 112
3.5.3.1 Succession of property by .. 112
Christian women

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 3.5.3.2 Law relating to Christian .. 112
women’s rights to succession
3.5.3.3 Rights of women under Christian .. 113
law
3.5.3.4 Christian law on divorce .. 113
3.5.4 Parsi Personal Law .. 113
3.5.4.1 Law relating to Parsi women's .. 114
right to succession
3.5.4.2 Divorce .. 114
3.5.5 Unequal Position of Indian Women .. 115
3.6 Female Foeticide .. 117
3.7 Conclusion .. 118
Chapter-4 WOMEN CRIMINALITY IN INDIA: LEGAL .. 120-155
STATISTICS
4.1 Introduction .. 120
4.2 Definition of Crime .. 121
4.3 Female Criminality .. 122
4.4 Relevance of Study .. 126
4.5 Legal Discourse .. 128
4.5.1 The Offence against Body .. 128
4.5.1.1 Homicide .. 128
4.5.1.2 Murder .. 129
4.5.1.3 Attempt to murder .. 132
4.5.1.4 Dowry death .. 133
4.5.1.5 Rape .. 134
4.5.1.6 Kidnapping and abduction .. 139
4.5.2 The Offence against Marriage .. 141
4.5.2.1 Cruelty by husband or relatives of .. 141
husband-An essential ingredient
4.5.3 The Offence against Property .. 143
4.5.3.1 Theft .. 144
4.5.3.2 Extortion .. 145
4.5.3.3 Robbery .. 146
4.5.3.4 Dacoity .. 149
4.5.3.5 Cheating .. 150
4.5.4 The Offences against the Public Tranquility .. 151
4.5.4.1 Riots .. 152

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 4.5.5 Crime Committed by Women under SLL .. 154
(Special Local Laws)
Chapter-5 ROLE OF JUDICIARY TO PREVENT OFFENCES .. 156-178
COMMITTED BY WOMEN
5.1 Introduction .. 156
5.2 Nalini Case .. 159
5.3 Shabanam Case .. 162
5.4 Sonia Case .. 164
5.5 Renuka Bai Case .. 166
5.6 K.D. Kempamma Case .. 167
5.7 Priyanka Modi v. Serious Fraud Investigation .. 168
Office Case
5.8 Laxman Kumar Case .. 169
5.9 Regina v. Kiranjit Ahluwalia .. 170
5.10 Shantabai Case .. 173
5.11 Jollyamma Joseph Case .. 174
5.12 Recent Incidences of Involvement of Women in .. 175
Crime
5.13 Conclusion .. 179
Chapter-6 EMPIRICAL STUDY OF WOMEN CRIMINALITY .. 180-197
6.1 Introduction .. 180
6.2 Public Opined .. 183
6.3 Conclusion .. 195
Chapter-7 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS .. 198-212
BIBLIOGRAPHY .. 213-220
ANNEXURE–1: QUESTIONNAIRE
ANNEXURE–2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLISHED ARTICLES

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