Critical Analysis Of The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: Successes, Failures, And Future Directions
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 28
- 1 min read
Karuna Sindhu, Advocate, Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi
ABSTRACT
The Dowry Prohibition Act,19611 is indeed a legislative response to Article 15(3) of the Indian Constitution which allows State to make special provisions for women and children2, and international obligations under various conventions.3 The Act aims to eradicate the entrenched practice of dowry, protecting women from dowry harassment and related offences. Despite the laudable objectives, the Act’s implementation has been marred by dual challenges- the persistence of dowry practices in society, as evidenced by various reports and everyday observations; and the rising incidence of false cases filed under the Act. This paper aims to critically analyse the Act, with a special focus on the real challenges faced by victims of dowry and related offences, in enforcing the rights given under the Act or seeking shelter under its provisions. It examines the Act’s successes, failures and future directions, seeking to inform strategies that will enable the Act to achieve its noble goal of eliminating dowry from Indian society. The paper also examines the issue of false cases filed under the Act, aiming to prevent the misuse of the Act by filing false cases against innocent husbands and their families.
