In order to prevent the suffering and atrocities inflicted on them, women must have knowledge of the laws of the land, said senior civil judge S H Pushpanjalidevi.

She was speaking after inaugurating the legal awareness programme for students organised jointly by Soundarya village and town development charitable trust, Taluk legal services committee and lawyers’ association.

There are various laws prevailing for protecting the rights of women. However, women should see to it that they are not misused. There is a law that entitles women to equal share in the paternal property.
But for a woman, the love, affection and a sense of security she gets from her parents and siblings is more important than property.

Hence women should seek for a share in paternal property only if it is required and not just because they are legally entitled to it, she told women.

“If your husband and in-laws are well-to-do, don’t desire for a share in your father’s property just for the heck of it,” she suggested.

Taking part as chief guest of the programme, chief civil judge S Nataraju commended the women folk for attaining greater heights in all walks of life. He gave information about various laws pertaining to dowry, atrocities on women, marriage registration and registered marriage.