Dowry System And Its Post Globalisation

Ms. Sakshi, Mody University of Science and Technology

ABSTRACT

In India dowry refers to a property or any valuable security that is given or agreed to be given by one party within a marriage to another party. In India, the parents of a girl who is engaged to the groom's family are often the ones who agree to pay the dowry. According to the "Dowry Act 1961," accepting a dowry is illegal in and of itself. However, research indicates that the act that forbade dowry in this nation was unsuccessful because of a number of its internal shortcomings. Dowry death is a major social issue, where a bride commits suicide or being killed by their husbands due to their intolerable demand and abusive behaviour. This study's primary goals are to evaluate the Indian dowry system as it stands today and assess how well the laws in place guard against dowry deaths. This legislation provides for punishment which could be imprisonment for minimum 5 years and a fine for more than 15 thousand rupees and the value of dowry received whichever is higher if someone provides, receives, or aids in the provision of dowry. The acts also provides for a penalty for directly or indirectly demanding dowry and provides for a penalty which involves a imprisonment of not less than 6 months and maximum for 2 years along with a fine of Rs.10,000. The agreements based on dowry are considered as void ab initio. The literature's conclusions indicate that ignorance of the laws pertaining to females' employment and education chances is the primary cause of the dowry death problems in India. According to the literature, regular legislative structure amendments aimed at achieving fair justice are the primary cause of India's declining rate of dowry deaths. This study used a secondary thematic analysis to pinpoint the major reasons, different impacts of the dowry system, and legislative structural inadequacies. As per the findings, it can be stated that proper education and empowerment in India can reduce the tendency of dowry deaths and make women confident to protest. India take part in various International Conventions which provide theoretical remedies to the problems related to the dowry.