Indira Jaising
Encyclopedia
Indira Jaising is a leftist India
n lawyer. She went to school in Mumbai and graduated in Bangalore
, before getting her degree in law
in 1962. Jaising became the second woman to be designated as a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Bombay in 1986 (the first was Sohini Nanavati).She became the first woman to be appointed Additional Solicitor General of India in 2009. From the beginning of her legal career, she has focused on protection of human rights, rights of women and those of the poor working class.
, the IAS officer who had prosecuted KPS Gill for outraging her modesty. This was one of the first cases of sexual harassment, successfully prosecuted. Jaising also argued the case of Githa Hariharan
in which the Supreme Court in a Bench presided over by Chief Justice A.S. Anand held that under Hindu law, the mother was also the "natural guardian" of her minor children, so that the children could also bear the name of the mother. Jaising also successfully challenged the discriminatory provisions of the Indian Divorce Act in the High Court of Kerala, thus enabling Christian women to get a divorce on the ground of cruelty or desertion, a right which was denied to them, which greatly bothered Jaising.
Corporation. Jaising argued cases of homeless pavement dwellers of Mumbai who were facing eviction. A keen environmentalist, Jaising has argued major environmental cases in the Supreme Court. Jaising has been associated with several Peoples Commissions on Violence in Punjab to investigate the extra judicial killings, disappearances and mass cremations that took place during the period 1979 to 1990.
, an organization that provides legal funding for the underprivlieged sections of Indian society. She founded a monthly magazine called The Lawyers, in 1986, which focuses on social justice
and women's issues in the context of Indian law. She has been involved in cases related to the discrimination against women, the Muslim Personal Law, rights of pavement dewllers and the homeless and the Bhopal gas tragedy. She has fought against child labor
, for the economic rights of women, estranged wives and domestic violence
cases. Here is a link to the article she has written on the first anniversary of the domestic violence act passed into law Woman Against Family.
She had a fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies London and has been a visiting Scholar at the Columbia University New York. She is currently member of the United Nations
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
She was conferred with the Rotary Manav Seva Award in recognition of her services to the nation in fighting corruption and as a champion of the weaker sections of the society.
She was given the Padma Shree
by the President of India in 2005 for her service to the cause of public affairs.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n lawyer. She went to school in Mumbai and graduated in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, before getting her degree in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in 1962. Jaising became the second woman to be designated as a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Bombay in 1986 (the first was Sohini Nanavati).She became the first woman to be appointed Additional Solicitor General of India in 2009. From the beginning of her legal career, she has focused on protection of human rights, rights of women and those of the poor working class.
Fighting For Women
Indira Jaising argued several cases relating to discrimination against women, including Mary Roy's case, which led to the grant of equal inheritance rights for Syrian Christian women in Kerala and Rupan Deol BajajRupan Deol Bajaj
Rupan Deol Bajaj, is a retired Officer of the Indian Administrative Service belonging to the Punjab Cadre. She at present lives in Chandigarh...
, the IAS officer who had prosecuted KPS Gill for outraging her modesty. This was one of the first cases of sexual harassment, successfully prosecuted. Jaising also argued the case of Githa Hariharan
Githa Hariharan
Githa Hariharan is an Indian author and editor based in New Delhi. Her first novel, The Thousand Faces of Night, won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1993.-Biography:...
in which the Supreme Court in a Bench presided over by Chief Justice A.S. Anand held that under Hindu law, the mother was also the "natural guardian" of her minor children, so that the children could also bear the name of the mother. Jaising also successfully challenged the discriminatory provisions of the Indian Divorce Act in the High Court of Kerala, thus enabling Christian women to get a divorce on the ground of cruelty or desertion, a right which was denied to them, which greatly bothered Jaising.
Human Rights and the Environment
Indira Jaising has represented the victims of the Bhopal tragedy in the Supreme Court of India in their claim for compensation against the American multinational Union CarbideUnion Carbide
Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. It currently employs more than 2,400 people. Union Carbide primarily produces chemicals and polymers that undergo one or more further conversions by customers before reaching consumers. Some are high-volume...
Corporation. Jaising argued cases of homeless pavement dwellers of Mumbai who were facing eviction. A keen environmentalist, Jaising has argued major environmental cases in the Supreme Court. Jaising has been associated with several Peoples Commissions on Violence in Punjab to investigate the extra judicial killings, disappearances and mass cremations that took place during the period 1979 to 1990.
Lawyers Collective
Indira Jaising later became the founder secretary of the Lawyers CollectiveLawyers Collective
Lawyers Collective is an NGO in India which promotes human rights, especially issues relating to women's rights, HIV, tobacco, and parliamentary corruption in India.-Founding:Lawyers collective was founded in 1981...
, an organization that provides legal funding for the underprivlieged sections of Indian society. She founded a monthly magazine called The Lawyers, in 1986, which focuses on social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
and women's issues in the context of Indian law. She has been involved in cases related to the discrimination against women, the Muslim Personal Law, rights of pavement dewllers and the homeless and the Bhopal gas tragedy. She has fought against child labor
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
, for the economic rights of women, estranged wives and domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
cases. Here is a link to the article she has written on the first anniversary of the domestic violence act passed into law Woman Against Family.
Other
Indira Jaising has attended several national and international conferences on women and represented her country at these conferences.She had a fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies London and has been a visiting Scholar at the Columbia University New York. She is currently member of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
She was conferred with the Rotary Manav Seva Award in recognition of her services to the nation in fighting corruption and as a champion of the weaker sections of the society.
She was given the Padma Shree
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
by the President of India in 2005 for her service to the cause of public affairs.