I hope you find this booklet useful and will reach out to this whenever you need to. Actually I hope you dont need to use it at all! How many times have we experienced harassment in the roads, parks, public and private spaces? Several times, right? We know there is legal recourse, we know that we can help ourselves and those around us and we know what we experience is a punishable offence, but we don't know how to enforce this. Be a Durga is our initiative at Durga to break this pattern and inform you that something can be done and you wont need to feel lost or alone. Priya Founder, Durga. 2
HANDBOOK A Ready Reckoner on Legal Rights and Self-Protection: Understanding Laws Against Violence Revised Edition (2025) 3
Foreword 7 Acknowledgement 8 List of Contributors 9 PUBLIC SPHERE 10 Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces 11 Section 74 BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita): Outraging the Modesty of a Woman 11 Section 75 BNS: Sexual Harassment 11 Filing Complaints against Sexual Harassment 12 Section 76 BNS: Assault or Use of Criminal Force to Women with Intent to Disrobe 13 Section 77 BNS: Voyeurism 16 Section 78 BNS: Stalking 17 Section 79 BNS: Word, Gesture or Act Intended to Insult the Modesty of a Woman 19 Sexual Harassment at Workplace The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Protection, and Redressal) Act, 2013 20 Public Interventions in Sexual Assaults 25 BNS Section 199: Failure of Public Servants to Act 25 BNS Section 63: Rape 27 CYBERSPHERE CYBERCRIME - LAWS ON ONLINE HARASSMENT AND 30 4
Section 67A: Sexually Explicit Content 31 BNS on Cyberstalking 33 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 35 DOMESTIC SPHERE 37 Protection from Domestic Violence 38 Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) 38 BNS Sections 41 Laws on Dowry 43 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 43 BNS Section 80: Dowry Death 45 BNS Section 85 & 86: Cruelty by Husband or Relatives 47 Child Marriage Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 49 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE GROUPS 52 Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses 53 POCSO Act, 2012 53 The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 56 CONCLUSION: TOOLS AND RESOURCES 59 PRACTICAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES 60 Helplines 60 Legal Aid Access 60 5
61 Safety Tips 61 Bystander Intervention Tips 62 How to Be a Real Durga 62 6
The Be A Durga handbook is the result of a collective effort to equip women with knowledge of their legal rights. This initiative, undertaken by the Legal Services Clinic (LSC), National Law School of India University (NLSIU), in collaboration with Durga India, reflects a shared commitment to fostering legal awareness and empowerment. We extend our deepest gratitude to Team Durga for their invaluable support and collaboration in shaping this handbook into a practical and accessible resource. Their dedication to women's safety and legal empowerment has been instrumental in bringing this project to life. We are especially grateful to our Faculty Advisor, Prof. Darshana Mitra, for her guidance and encouragement throughout the process. We are immensely grateful to Professors Aishwarya Birla and Malini Chidambaram, whose meticulous review and insightful feedback have strengthened the legal accuracy and clarity of this handbook. Their expertise has ensured that this resource is both comprehensive and easy to understand. We also acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the LSC team, whose efforts in research, drafting, and coordination have been essential in developing this handbook. A special thanks to our design volunteers, whose creativity and attention to detail have made this resource engaging and accessible. Finally, we express our sincere gratitude to NLSIU for providing the institutional support and infrastructure that made this project possible. This handbook stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, and we hope it serves as a valuable guide for all those seeking to understand and assert their rights. Legal Services Clinic, NLSIU (In collaboration with Durga India) 7
The law is not just a set of rules—it is a lived reality. It shapes the way we move through the world, the protections we can claim, and the justice we can seek. Yet, for many, the law remains distant—buried in jargon, entangled in procedures, and inaccessible when it is needed most. Between knowing our rights and being able to act on them, there is often an unsettling gap: Who do I turn to? What are my options? What happens next? Legal aid exists to bridge this distance, making the law something people can not only understand but use. This handbook is an effort in that direction. Be A Durga is not just a guide to legal provisions—it is a resource shaped by lived experiences. It does not merely explain what the law says but seeks to make it navigable in practice. It is meant for those who find themselves in difficult situations, unsure of the next step, and for those who want to help but don’t know how. This edition is a revision of the handbook first published in 2020, now updated to reflect the new criminal codes—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). But more than a revision, it is a restructuring. We have moved from mere explainers to a FAQ-based approach, organized into thematic chapters on public, private, and cyber spheres. We have kept the language lucid, incorporated illustrations for accessibility, and limited legalese to make this a practical, user-friendly resource. At the Legal Services Clinic, NLSIU, we believe that the law is not just an abstract ideal but something that must be accessible and actionable. In collaboration with Durga India, we hope this handbook serves as a guide for those who need it—whether as a tool for protection, a means of assistance, or simply a way to understand the rights that shape our everyday lives. Legal Services Clinic, NLSIU (In collaboration with Durga India) 8
Faculty Advisor Prof. Darshana Mitra Faculty Contributors Prof. Aishwarya Birla Prof. Malini Chidambaram Convenors Hita Manjunath Malhar Satav Volunteers (Research) Abhinav Jha Abhinav Somani Aditya Nath Aarushi Ayishath Zainaba Bindushree M Bhumika Shinde Gurnoor Singh Kanishk Praveen Ritesh Rohan Sahil Shailraj Jhalnia Design Volunteers Cover Page: Abhilasha Bansal & Harsh Unhavane Layout & Illustrations: Maanya R & Mantrana Mahi Agarwal 9
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