Jayeeta Mandal, Asian Law College Noida
ABSTRACT
The word “Dowry” is very well known in today’s society. The term Dowry refers to the transfer of property or other significant security from one party who agrees to provide it to another party during the marriage. In Indian society, majorly the family of the bride provides value to the family of the groom. When a woman enters into a marriage, she comes with various aspirations. A girl always dreams of a happy married life, but these happy dreams gradually change into a nightmare for that girl when she is worn out by the heinous acts of dowry-related abuse. The exploitation of women is not new in the case of dowry. Women have always been the prey of barbaric systems and atrocities. The death of married women through harassment and cruelty also existed earlier in society through sati and other evil practices. Currently, the dowry has become a popular social evil in society towards women. Quite a few times, the system of Dowry results in the brutal death of the woman. According to the Indian Legal system, taking Dowry is itself a crime and it’s prohibited under “The Dowry Act 1961”. But the dowry system is deeply rooted in the Indian system. The article focuses on the causes of dowry prominence in Indian society and the laws related to the Dowry prohibition. It also discusses the cases and best possible solution to eradicate dowry from Indian culture.
