Equality: Again a misnomer!!!

We talk about the right to equality. Everyone is equal, The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.

Well from our childhood we are told and taught that this a fundamental right, granted to all the Indians. No one can ever challenge it as it is mentioned in the Indian Constitution. I was also amongst those who grew up with the notion, that this is true. So it is ‘politically’. I never knew that even fundamental rights can be interpreted and manipulated by other laws or their sub clauses.

I don’t have much of knowledge on the law, but from my ‘real time’ experience I realized that my notion, of the simplicity of this fundamental right, was not so correct.

Take this example, I was filling some form where I was suppose to declare the nominees for my account. I was reading thru the instructions when I was really taken aback. Rules/Guidelines for males and Females were different. WHY?? What struck me more was the nature of this difference. A female is allowed to declare her husband’s parents as her nominee, as they would be considered as a part of the family, but the same is not true for a male. He cannot declare her wife’s parents as nominee as they won’t be considered as a part of the family!!!!
The difference dose not ends here. Both of them can declare their children married/unmarried as their nominee. But in case of a deceased child, only son’s family (his widow and children) would be considered as family and can be nominated but the same is not true for a daughter!!!

Ya we do have a right to equality. Females are given a right to declare a their nominees. At least its not defaulted to be same as the declaration of their better half.