Economic Rights of Women Within Marriage

The economic rights of married women, during the subsistence of marriage and on dissolution of marriage shall be protected by law.

All endowments pledged to a woman at the time of her marriage, whether by parents, parents-in-law or her husband, and gifts given to her shall be her absolute and separate property.

Adequate maintenance, including interim maintenance, shall be provided to the dependent spouse during the subsistence of the marriage.

During the subsistence of the marriage, the wife's access to matrimonial assets must be guaranteed, including her right to reside in the matrimonial home.

Laws against domestic violence shall empower the courts to grant injunction restraining a violent spouse from entering the matrimonial home.

In case of dissolution of a marriage, the courts shall decide all related matters, e.g. divorce/dissolution, maintenance/alimony or dower/financial settlement and provision of shelter simultaneously, except disputes relating to custody of minors. In doing so, separate procedures shall be laid down in order to provide for expeditious disposal of suits.

Assets movable or immovable, accumulated during the subsistence of the marriage shall be distributed equally on the termination of the marriage.

Inheritance laws shall be changed to ensure that the share of the male and female heirs of the same class of kinship shall be equal. Upon the death of the husband, the widow and her children shall inherit, in equal proportion, half of the immovable and movable assets accumulated by the couple during the subsistence of the marriage. The widow shall remain the sole owner of the balance half of such assets till her death.

The children shall inherit in equal proportion, the share of their mother's assets.