The Supreme Court of India has observed that the practice of excommunicating Parsi women for entering into interfaith marriages is prima facie discriminatory, emphasising that the right of conscience is a birthright.
The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is recommending that the state government mandate the inclusion of the bride and groom's date of birth on wedding invitations to combat child marriages.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has appealed to the United Nations to intervene on behalf of religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh, citing human rights violations.
An eight-year-old boy's timely intervention helped prevent the child marriage of his friend from Class 5, scheduled on the night of Akshaya Tritiya, highlighting both the persistence of the social evil and the strength of awareness among children.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has confirmed that a young woman from Madhya Pradesh, known for her viral videos, is a minor, leading to allegations of 'love Jihad' regarding her interfaith marriage.
In Rediff's new series on modern marriages, young couples from across India discuss how they deal with differences of opinion, lifestyle preferences and personal choices. Here, Megha* tells Rishika Shah/Rediff how she coped with the unexpected challenges that followed her impulsive marriage to her best friend.
Experts and global leaders have called on the United Nations to declare a dedicated 'World Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage', highlighting that a child marriage still occurs every three seconds globally.
'People don't believe that a 15-year-old girl subjected to sexual intercourse within a marriage is a victim of rape.'
In this new series on modern marriages, Payal* tells Divya Nair how she coped with the unexpected challenges that followed her impulsive marriage to her best friend.
Uttarakhand Police have filed the country's first chargesheet under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in a case involving alleged 'triple talaq' and 'halala'. The chargesheet, submitted in a Haridwar court, names nine individuals accused of dowry harassment, marital torture, and illegal divorce.
UN experts have voiced serious concerns regarding the ongoing abduction and forced religious conversion through marriage of women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan, highlighting that impunity is fuelling the practice.
The Delhi High Court has affirmed that consenting adults have the constitutional right to marry, and no one, including family or the state, can interfere with their decision. The ruling came in response to a petition from a couple seeking protection from the woman's father.
The Allahabad High Court has refused to grant protection to a live-in couple, citing the woman's existing marriage and the principle that one person's freedom cannot infringe upon another's legal rights.
A man in Beed district, along with four relatives, has been booked for allegedly divorcing his wife using the banned 'triple talaq' method. The victim reported years of abuse and dowry demands.
Himanta Biswa Sarma's return as Assam's Chief Minister underscores the BJP's increasing dominance in the northeast, marked by both development and divisive policies.
When Bangalore-based Arjun* agreed to an arranged marriage, he believed he had found the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. But a quiet conflict over religion at home soon began to test the relationship.
The Gujarat government has introduced the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, aiming to establish a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships, regardless of religion. This follows a similar move by Uttarakhand and excludes Scheduled Tribes and groups with protected customary rights.
The Maharashtra assembly has passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, introducing strict measures to prevent religious conversions through coercion, fraud, or marriage, sparking debate over constitutional rights and religious freedom.
Despite outward displays of cordiality, a formal visit by King Charles III to the US revealed underlying tensions between the leaders, highlighted by subtle rebukes and contrasting views on key issues.
The Maharashtra government has introduced the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, which aims to prohibit religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, or marriage, with stringent penalties for violations.
A triple talaq case in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district has sparked controversy after police did not register it under the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Legal experts are questioning the failure to enforce the UCC, which prohibits practices like triple talaq and halala, citing potential issues with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
Noida Police have suspended two officers for failing to include key legal provisions in a rape case FIR, including those related to unlawful religious conversion and the SC/ST Act.
A triple talaq case in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district has sparked controversy as police did not initially file it under the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) due to reported technical issues, raising concerns about the UCC's enforcement.
The investigation into Sheena Bora's murder, and, later, the case, leans heavily on the half-burnt body found in rural Maharashtra in 2012. Therefore, the very strange and notable differences -- like the Case Of The Rising Skeleton -- between both postmortems/their reports done on it have a critical bearing.
Veteran politician Farooq Abdullah survived an assassination attempt during a marriage function in Jammu. Security concerns have been raised following the incident.
The Delhi High Court has closed a rape and POCSO Act case against a man due to his consensual relationship with a minor, considering the impact on their young family.
Sankgeetha Vijay, wife of actor-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekar, has filed for divorce, accusing him of an extra-marital affair and mental cruelty. The petition seeks to keep proceedings private and restrain media coverage.
The Supreme Court of India has stated that the time has come for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), while hearing a plea challenging the Shariat law of 1937. The court suggested that the legislature should address the issue of discrimination against Muslim women.
Chiraiya could have been a powerful, hard-hitting series but it ends up feeling scattered and emotionally uneven, observes Divya Nair.
Hiba Rana, daughter of poet Munawwar Rana, has filed a case against her husband alleging triple talaq, dowry harassment, and assault. The FIR details years of alleged abuse and demands for dowry.
'Many of the children I work with had never attended school before and had never been given the right environment or opportunity to learn.'
'When education became accessible -- through flexible learning spaces, creative methods and community-based classrooms -- these same children began to thrive.'
'Over time, many who had never stepped into a formal classroom not only entered the education system but continued their studies further, with some going on to university.'
'Our government is committed to addressing it firmly while protecting the rights of genuine citizens.'
For Mumbai-based Priya, arranged marriage was not a personal choice. The obligation slowly led to unprotected sex, followed by a baby and years of suppressed emotions leaving her feeling trapped in her marriage.
'Every issue that Muslims are facing today affects Muslim women. But how come women's issues don't affect the community?' 'How does the community benefit by the practice of halala or polygamy?'
The Infinite Saree campaign is using India's most iconic garment to demand a law against marital rape in the country.
In May, 40 Rohingyas were blindfolded and flown to the Andaman and Nicobar islands and then thrown into the sea and made to swim to an island in Myanmar. And after the Pahalgam attack, at least 300 Muslims were 'pushed back' to Bangladesh from Assam.
Supreet Singh, filmmaker and co-founder of Red Dot Foundation, explains how the 4km long Infinite Saree is a larger campaign against all forms of sexual abuse, including marital rape.
'When I asked for an amicable separation, I was told that my professional background & achievements were irrelevant & was advised to take up work as a cleaner or in a supermarket in the small village where we lived in Austria, simply to retain the joint custody of my children.'
'Caring for one's parents is the husband's responsibility, especially if he is the earning member of the family.' 'The wife may be financially dependent on him but that does not create a legal obligation for her to serve or care for her in-laws.'
Emotional abuse and threats to life or marriage are not only morally wrong, they can be legally challenged, counsels rediffGURU Kanchan Rai.
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