New Delhi: The Government will introduce a Bill in Parliament "as soon as possible" to provide for the protection of property rights of women and girls in their parental as well as in-laws' homes, Law and Justice Minister H R Bharadwaj told the Rajya Sabha today (Dec 3, 2004).

"We are ready with the measure. We are going to introduce this Bill as soon as possible. I am giving a commitment that I am going to take it to the Cabinet next week. The draft is ready with me," he said winding up a discussion on a Private Member's bill.

The Property Rights of Women and Girls Bill, 2002, moved by Kum Rai, was later withdrawn.

The Law Minister said he had prepared a note for the Cabinet on child marriage to check the practice.

Describing it as part of Government's programme, he said the Prime Minister had asked him to bring the Bill on property rights in the next Cabinet meeting and accordingly he had prepared the draft.

Observing that the country had a pluralistic society, he said it was not possible to bring a uniform law in this regard as there were separate laws for Hindus and Personal Laws for Muslims while Christians were governed by the Indian Succession Act like the Parsis.

He said even the Law Commission of India has recommended amendment in the law to give equal right to women in matters of property.

Referring to the practice of pre-natal sex determination, he said though laws were there to put a ban on it, the attitude of the people had to change.