Notion of Victim Precipitation in Male Dominating Indian Society and Rape Laws

Exploring the Paradox of Women's Rights and Morality in Indian Society

Abstract

Women are part of vulnerable group and are declared as a weaker section by the Indian Constitution. It is ironical that when Indian mythology places women on a very high pedestal and they are worshiped and honoured as Goddess of Learning-Saraswati of wealth -Laxmi of power- Parvati, the Indian society adopts double standards in so far as her guaranteed rights are concerned. There has been over the decades alarming decline in moral values all around and the contemporary world faces a great challenge, particularly in India. In the name of progress and advancement, the people are losing out on moral values. It is rather sad that while one keeps celebrating women right in all spheres, the people exhibit no concern for her honour and her dignity. It is a sordid reflection on the attitude of indifference of the society. An attitude of men to treat women as a property, to be possessed to the extent beneficial to them, has almost become a value in itself. Further, an unchaste woman is treated as a symbol of sin, to be discarded from the society irrespective of her involvement or innocence, or the hostile circumstances that placed her in that situation. This newly highlighted, yet age-old problem regarding a safe and secured life for women folk is worthy of attention with an open mind. At one, there is doubt as to adequate security for moral values in existing criminal law at another, there is a fear as to the development in the people of disrespect to these values.