-Express News Service Bowing to pressure from opposition parties and women’s rights organisations, the Union Cabinet today cleared some more amendments to the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill to give women a clearly-defined share in their husband’s “immovable residential property” — including that acquired before marriage — in divorce cases. If passed, the amended Bill would allow “equal share of residential property” to the wife and children. The wife’s share will be decided...

-The Hindu Amendments to be introduced to Lokpal Bill in the RS on May 21 or 22 The government is expected to introduce a few amendments to the pending Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha either on Monday or Tuesday, when it is expected to be moved for consideration and passage. A key amendment pertains to de-linking of Lokayuktas from Lokpal. Regional parties are opposed to creation of Lokayukta as proposed by...

-The Times of India Fingers are now being pointed at former chief minister Mayawati and her favourite babu Shashank Shekhar Singh for the role they might have played in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam. And the basis for this is a government order issued by Mayawati herself on May 31, 2007, 18 days after becoming chief minister. Although the BSP on Wednesday denied any role of its supremo in the...

The proposed criminalisation of consensual sex between youngsters in the 16-18 age group is seen as regressive and in denial of social realities. THE minimum age for consensual sex has been raised from 16 to 18 in the amended Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011, recently approved by the Union Cabinet. If approved by Parliament, this will make sexual activity with a person below 18 a criminal offence,...

Diluting women's share in marital property in the event of divorce, the government has sought to restrict the provision for `immoveable property' to residential assets, a move opposed by women's rights activists. The marriage amendment bill seeks to amend the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and the Special Marriage Act, 1954, legislating a women's right to marital property acquired during the subsistence of marriage. The amendment cleared by the Union Cabinet recently...