Property Rights and Gender Equality in India: A Comparative Study

Abstract: This study examines the intersection of property rights and gender equality in India, focusing on how different religious and legal frameworks impact women’s access to and control over property. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, significant disparities persist across various communities, influenced by personal laws, societal norms, and historical contexts. The research provides a comparative analysis of the property rights of women under Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and other personal laws, highlighting key legal provisions, landmark judgments, and the effects of recent legal reforms, such as the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005. The study investigates how these laws differ in their treatment of women's inheritance rights, ownership of ancestral property, and access to matrimonial property, with a focus on understanding the underlying reasons for these disparities. Additionally, the research explores the role of the judiciary in interpreting and advancing women’s property rights, along with the impact of socio-economic factors and regional variations on the implementation of these rights.