Kathmandu, March 21:

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court today seeking its order to scrap a provision in the Civil Code of 1963 relating to women’s property right.

Advocate Meera Dhungana filed the PIL representing the Forum for Women, Law and Development. In the petition, she has claimed that Section 7 of the Women’s Property Chapter is unconstitutional and bars women from using their property as per their wish. The petitioner claimed that this is against the principle of equality.

The section bars a woman from giving her property to the persons of her choice and to marry with the same person later. If she does so, her property is returned to her concerned relatives.

The Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Upper House of Parliament and Law Reform Commission have been made defendants in the petition. The petitioner sought the apex court order to the authorities not to bar women from using their property as per their wish.