Basic Laws & Rights Every For Every Indian

There is nothing more empowering than knowing your country's laws and rights. While, most of us are aware of some basic laws and rights, here are some of them which we might not know about. …

Some really helpful Laws and Rights every Indian should know

There are many laws in our constitution which are really helpful to common man but, most of us are not aware of.

Lack of knowledge and awareness may sometimes put you in trouble and hence every individual need to know more about the country’s laws and rights.

Here are some basic laws and rights that every individual must know:

1) If your cylinder explodes you are entitled to Rs. 40 lakh cover!

Cover of up to a whopping Rs 40 lakh is given along with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, in case of loss of life or damage to property due to cylinder explosions.

2) 3 months in jail for PDA! (Public Display of Affection)

PDA within its limits is allowed but any obscene activity is punishable by law for upto 3 months. Since the word obscene has not been defined, couples are often harassed by policemen.

3) Traffic head constables have limited prosecution power

Head Constables have limited prosecution power and they can prosecute anybody for any offence which presently has a penalty for more than Rs 100 per offence and not more than that.

4) The tax recovery officer can arrest and release you

In case of tax violations, the TRO has the right to arrest you, though a summon has to be sent. The tax commissioner only decides how long can you be in custody, but your release will be decided by the TRO. This has been mentioned in the Income-tax Act, 1961 .

5) Women can lodge complaints through emails

Guidelines issued by the Delhi Police entitle women to the privilege of registering a complaint via email or even through post if she can't go to the police station.

6) Live-in relationships are not illegal

It is legal for any two consenting adults have the freedom to live together without marriage if they wish to. In fact there is also an inclination to treat live in relationships like marriage in Indian courts if the couple have lived together for many years.

7) If you have been fined once in the day you maybe excused after that

Riding around without a helmet can land you into trouble, but once you are fined for it, the chalaan slip can get you out of being fined for the same till midnight. Yes, but this is not an encouragement to do so. Be safe while driving.

8) You don't have to pay the MRP, you can buy for less

MRP is the Maximum Retail Price. As consumers, you have the right to bargain for a price below that. However, a seller can not go beyond the MRP.

9) The no sex divorce

As funny as it sounds, if a husband or a wife refuse sex post marriage, it can be deemed as 'mental cruelty' and is a viable reason for divorce.

10) If you have a son and you are looking to adopt another

The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 clearly states that if you have a Hindu son or a son's son or a son's son's son, you cannot adopt another one. Same goes for a daughter. And the minimum age gap should be 21 years between the child and the adopter.

11) Pre-marital sex not illegal

Pre-marital sex is not illegal in India as long as the girl's age is more than 16. However, sex with the assurance of marriage can be considered a crime if the girl can prove it.

12) Possessing porn is not illegal

Possessing pornographic material or watching porn is not illegal. It is illegal and punishable only when one sells, distributes, publicly exhibits or in any manner puts into circulation.

13) Hotels cannot deny admission to an unmarried couple

According to Hotel Association of India (HAI) there is no law in the book which states that unmarried couple should be denied given a room in any hotels across India.

14) A Single man cannot adopt a baby girl child

According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development stated a law which made clear that a single man cannot adopt a girl child to make adoption clean and safe.

15) Free Legal Aid for all

Under Article 39-A of the Constitution of India, the government has enacted an act named Legal services Authorities Act, 1987 which states that any individual who is not able to afford a lawyer to fight for their case they are entitled to get free legal aid under the act.

16) A doctor has to attend a Rape Victim even if no FIR is registered

According to Indian Code of Criminal Procedure, a doctor has to attend a rape victim whenever she approaches for a medical examination, he she cannot demand for an FIR copy before beginning the examination.

17) Recorded phone conversation can act as evidence in Court

According to Information Technology Act, 2000 voice messages recorded in a tape or a phone can be produced as evidence in the Court.

18) Women witnesses can record her statements in her own residence

Section 160 CrPC states that women cannot be called over to police stations for interrogation. A lady can deny coming to the police station for recording the statements and instead can ask the police officers to come at her own place to record the statements.

Ignorance of Law is no defense

In the court of Law, you cannot plead that you are not aware of the Law. This is what most of the people do. Thus, knowing the Basic Laws and following it becomes more important here.