GENDER EQUALITY IN INDIA: LEGAL ISSUES AND CHALLENGES (Pages 81-99) by Dr. S. Kandasamy in THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST / ISSN: 2350-1499 (Online); 2350-0751 (Print)

Equality is an ideal concept – For a long time, women are treated as unequal only because of the gender – The concept of equality plays an important role in pervasive human dignity – It is expected that man and woman shall enjoy same dignity and rights – International perception also favors the same. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Convention on the Political Rights of Women, 1954, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966 and Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979 recognize and promote the gender equality. In India, our Constitution itself is the guarantor of gender equality – Fundamental Rights under Constitution guarantees the gender equality - Indian judiciary also plays a vital role in promotion of gender equality. However, the bitter truth is that the gender inequality is rooted in attitude, social institutions, political structure, culture and market forces – We have to wait still to bring the gender equality.forces – We have to wait still to bring the gender equality.Keywords: Gender Equality, Human Rights, Discrimination against Women, Civil and Political Rights, Judicial View, Social Institution, Culture and Tradition.