In ancient, the purpose of dowry was to
give support and security to new couple who start their married life; in
that time it was the smiling face of dowry. But by passing from one
generation to next generation, as social and moral values changed, now
the people’s attitude has become more consumerist and dowry has become a
cancer in society. In upper-class society dowry has become the status
symbol. Now-a-days demands of dowry consists a large sum of money,
furniture, electronics etc.
If a girl is married in her teen age,
then parents have to pay a small amount of dowry, but if a girl is
educated and qualified then parents have to need more amounts to get a
bridegroom of same status, and if a family feels that they will not be
able to afford this amount of dowry and the society will laugh onto
them, they kills the girl child before her birth or just after her
birth. So dowry system is promoting to child marriage, illiteracy of
women, foeticide and infanticide. Some parents pass their life under
debit to pay dowry in the marriage of their daughter which also results
the suicide of parents. If the amount of dowry is not sufficient or not
according to statement then bride faces cruelty by her husband and
in-laws and her life becomes miserable. Sometimes it takes the form of
“bride-burning” and it is reported as accidental burn in kitchen or
disguised as suicide. Women are facing heinous crimes due to dowry like
dowry-deaths, dowry-murders, bride burning, dowry-suicides and other
cruelty. These offences have created an environment of insecurity for
women in the society.
Dowry Law
Offence related to dowry covered under
sections 302, 304-B, 306, 34, 498-A of IPC and the Dowry Prohibition
Act. But the root of this social evil is very deep and still growing up.
Sections of constitution are not sufficient to stop its rising. Dowry
is spreading like a contagious disease.
The Dowry Prohibition Act 1961
The Dowry Prohibition Act extends whole India besides Jammu and Kashmir.
Dowry Definition in
this Act, “Dowry means any property or valuable security given or agreed
to be given either directly or indirectly by one party to another party
in a marriage or By the persons of either party to a marriage or by any
other person, by either party to the marriage or to any other person.”
Penalty for giving or taking Dowry under The Dowry Prohibition Act – If
any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets
the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment
for a term which shall not be less than 5 years, and with fine which
shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the
value of such dowry.
Indian Panel Code (IPC) Section 304B
For Dowry Death – Where
the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs,
otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her
marriage and it is shown that soon before her death, she was subjected
to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband
for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be
called “dowry death”, and such husband or relative shall be deemed to
have caused her death. Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished
with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years
but which may extend to imprisonment for life.
Indian Panel Code (IPC) Section 498A
Husband or relative of husband of a
woman subjecting her to cruelty. Whoever, being the husband or the
relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall
be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three
years and shall also be liable to fine. Cruelty means — Any willful
conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to
commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or
health (whether mental or physical) of the woman or Harassment of the
woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person
related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable
security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to
her to meet such demand.
