Dowry Laws And Their Implications

Garvit Sinha & Anant Singhal, Delhi Metropolitan Education, Noida

ABSTRACT

The objective of the research paper is to understand the dowry laws and it's implications in the society. The dowry refers to the system in which there is exchange of durable goods, cash, gold, valuable security, or personal property that the bride’s family gives to the groom and his parents as a condition of marriage. It may impose an economic burden to the bride’s family and its relatives. In some cases, the dowry system can lead to crimes ranging from mental abuse and injury to death against women. Dowry payments have long been prohibited under certain Indian laws, including the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, approved by the Indian Parliament and subsequently by sections 304B and 498A of the Indian Penal Code. Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 states that gifts given to the bride or groom on the occasion of marriage are not subject to penalties for giving or accepting a dowry unless requested. Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code states that if a woman complains of dowry harassment, the groom and her family members shall be immediately arrested. India’s dowry laws have been in place for decades but are widely criticized for being ineffective. Dowry death and murder practices continue unhindered in many parts of India, further raising concerns about enforcement. The law has been widely abused, and in 2014 the Supreme Court ruled that arrests cannot be made without the approval of a judge. The death curse due to dowry or dowry-related harassment and abuse has long been a topic of discussion in Indian society. Only a systematic effort by police, government officials, women’s support groups, and judges to impose discouraging penalties for dowry deaths can help solve this problem.