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DefinitionsManyjudicialexpertsconsiderthedefinitionsasvagueandsubjecttomisuse.[1]

DowryAspersection2oftheDowryProhibitionAct

..."dowry"meansanypropertyorvaluablesecuritygivenoragreedtobegiveneitherdirectlyorindirectly(a)Byonepartytoamarriagetotheotherpartytothemarriage,or

(b)Bytheparentofeitherpartytoamarriageorbyanyotherperson,,toeitherpartytothemarriageortoanyotherperson,

atorbefore...oranytimeafterthemarriage...inconnectionwiththemarriageofthesaidparties...[2]

StridhanStridhanis,generallyspeaking,whatawomancanclaimasherownpropertywithinamaritalhousehold.Itmayincludeherjewelry(giftedeitherbyherfamilyorbyherin-laws),giftspresentedtoherduringtheweddingorlater,andthedowryarticlesgivenbyherfamily.

Giftsgivenbytheparentsofthebrideareconsidered"stridhan",i.e.propertyofthewoman,traditionallyrepresentinghershareofherparent'swealth.[3]

TheDowryProhibition(DP)ActIntroducedandtakenupbythenIndianlawministerAshokeKumarSen,thisAct[4]prohibitstherequest,paymentoracceptanceofadowry,"asconsiderationforthemarriage".where"dowry"isdefinedasagiftdemandedorgivenasapreconditionforamarriage.Giftsgivenwithoutapreconditionarenotconsidereddowry,andarelegal.Askingorgivingofdowrycanbepunishedbyanimprisonmentofuptosixmonths,orafineofuptoRs.15000ortheamountofdowrywhicheverishigherandimprisonmentupto5years.Itreplacedseveralpiecesofanti-dowrylegislationthathadbeenenactedbyvariousIndianstates.

Section4ofthesaidActstates:

4.Penaltyfordemandingdowry.-Ifanypersondemands,directlyorindirectly,fromtheparentsorotherrelativesorguardianofabrideorbridegroom,asthecasemaybe,anydowry,heshallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforatermwhichshallnotbelessthansixmonths,butwhichmayextendtotwoyearsandwithfinewhichmayextendtotenthousandrupees.ProvidedthattheCourtmay,foraadequateandspecialreasonstobementionedinthejudgment,imposeasentenceofimprisonmentforatermoflessthansixmonths.[5]

However,aspersection3oftheAct,[6]boththegiverandthereceiveraresou

ghttobepunished.

3.Penaltyforgivingortakingdowry.-[(Note:Section3re-numberedassub-section(1)thereofbyActNo.63of1984,sec.3)(1)]Ifanyperson,afterthecommencementofthisAct,givesortakesorabetsthegivingortakingofdowry,heshallbepunishablewithimprisonmentforatermwhichshallnotbelessthan[(Note:Subs.byAct43of1986,Sec.3)fiveyears,andwithfinewhichshallnotbelessthanfifteenthousandrupeesortheamountofthevalueofsuchdowry,whicheverismore:]ProvidedthattheCourtmay,foraadequateandspecialreasonstoberecordedi

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nhejudgment,imposeasentenceofimprisonmentofatermoflessthan[(Note:Subs.byAct43of1986,Sec.3)fiveyears.]

(2)[(Note:Ins.byAct63of1984,sec.3)Nothingissubsection(1)shallapplyto,orinrelationto,-

(a)Presentswhicharegivenatthetimeofamarriagetothebride(withoutanydemandhavingbeenmadeinthatbehalf).

(b)Presentswhicharegivenatthetimeofamarriagetothebridegroom(withoutanydemandhavingbeenmadeinthatbehalf).

ProvidedthatsuchpresentsareenteredinalistmaintainedinaccordancewiththerulesmadeunderthisAct.

Providedfurtherthatwheresuchpresentsaremadebyoronbehalfofthebrideoranypersonrelatedtothebride,suchpresentsareofacustomarynatureandthevaluethereofisnotexcessivehavingregardtothefinancialstatusofthepersonbywhom,oronwhosebehalf,suchpresentsaregiven.

IPCSection406Thissection,foroffencesrelatedtoCriminalBreachofTrust,isusuallyappliedininvestigationofStridhanrecoveryfromthehusbandandhisfamily.

Offencesunderthissectionarebailableandcognizable.

Section406.Punishmentforcriminalbreachoftrust

Whoevercommitscriminalbreachoftrustshallbepunishedwithimprisonmentofeitherdescriptionforatermwhichmayextendtothreeyears,orwithfine,orwithboth.[7]

IPCSection304BThisSectionoftheIndianPenalCodewasinsertedbya1986amendment.

Thewordingofthelawstates:

Section304B.Dowrydeath(1)Wherethedeathofawomaniscausedbyanyburnsorbodilyinjuryoroccursotherwisethanundernormalcircumstanceswithinsevenyearsofhermarriageanditisshownthatsoonbeforeherdeathshewassubjectedtocrueltyorharassmentbyherhusbandoranyrelativeofherhusbandfor,orinconnectionwith,anydemandfordowry,suchdeathshallbecalled"dowrydeath"andsuchhusbandorrelativeshallbedeemedtohavecausedherdeath.

Explanation:-Forthepurposeofthissub-section,"dowry"shallhavethesamemeaningasinsection2oftheDowryProhibitionAct,1961(28of1961).

(2)Whoevercommitsdowrydeathshallbepunishedwithimprisonmentforatermwhichshallnotbelessthansevenyearsbutwhichmayextendtoimprisonmentforlife.[8]

IPCSection498ASection498AwasinsertedintotheIndianPenalCodein1983viaanamendment.

Itreads:

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498A.Husbandorrelativeofhusbandofawomansubjectinghertocruelty.Whoever,beingthehusbandortherelativeofthehusbandofawoman,subjectssuchwomantocrueltyshallbepunishedwithimprisonmentforatermwhichmayextendtothreeyearsandshallalsobeliabletofine.

Explanation-Forthepurposeofthissection,"cruelty"means-

(a)Anywillfulconductwhichisofsuchanatureasislikelytodrivethewomantocommitsuicideortocausegraveinjuryordangertolife,limborhealthwhethermentalorphysical)ofthewoman;or

(b)Harassmentofthewomanwheresuchharassmentiswithaviewtocoercingheroranypersonrelatedtohertomeetanyunlawfuldemandforanypropertyorvaluablesecurityorisonaccountoffailurebyheroranypersonrelatedtohermeetsuchdemand.[9]

Thissectionisnon-bailable,non-compoundable(i.e.itcannotbeprivatelyresolvedbetweenthepartiesconcerned)andcognizable.

Prosecutionforanon-compoundableoffencecanonlybequashedbyaHighCourtofIndiaunderitspowersundersection482ofCriminalProcedureCodeofIndia.Usually,casesunder498Aarequashedbymutualagreementwhenthehusbandandwifereconcilewitheachother,oragreetodivorcebymutualconsent.

AfterregistrationofanFIRforacognizable,non-bailableoffence,thepoliceinIndiacanarrestanyandalloftheaccusednamedinthecomplaint.

DomesticViolenceAct(2005/2006)Mainarticle:ProtectionofWomenfromDomesticViolenceAct2005Theabovebeingcriminalremedies,acivilremedywasbroughtintothepicturein2005(amendedin2006).Thiswascalledthe"ProtectionofWomenfromDomesticViolenceAct".

Forthepurposeofthisact,DomesticViolenceincludesthedemandfordowry:

ForthepurposesofthisAct,anyact,omissionorcommissionorconductoftherespondentshallconstitutedomesticviolenceincaseit-(a)harmsorinjuresorendangersthehealth,safety,life,limborwell-being,whethermentalorphysical,oftheaggrievedpersonortendstodosoandincludescausingphysicalabuse,sexualabuse,verbalandemotionalabuseandeconomicabuse;or

(b)harasses,harms,injuresorendangerstheaggrievedpersonwithaviewtocoerceheroranyotherpersonrelatedtohertomeetanyunlawfuldemandforanydowryorotherpropertyorvaluablesecurity;or

(c)hastheeffectofthreateningtheaggrievedpersonoranypersonrelatedtoherbyanyconductmentionedinclause(a)orclause(b);or(d)otherwiseinjure

sorcausesharm,whetherphysicalormental,totheaggrievedperson.[10]

ThisActempoweredthelowercourtstoissue"protectionorders"onthecomplaintofawomanagainsthermalerelatives.Theprotectionorderscouldincluderestrainingordersonthehusbandandothers,monetarycompensation,andresidenceorders.

ThoughitisaCivilremedy,violationofprotectionordersresultinCriminalpenalties(includingimprisonment).

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CriticismofAnti-DowryLaws

CriticismbyJudiciaryTheSupremeCourtofIndiaandthevariousHighCourtshavenotedthegrossmisuseofIPC498Ainvariousjudgments:

Supremecourtdeclared498aas"LegalTerrorism"whilegivingjudgmentinmatterofSushilKumarSharmaVs.UnionofIndia(UOI)andOrs-Jul192005(Citation:JT2005(6)SC266).

CriticismoutsideIndiaSeveralreportsoftheabuseofSection498AhaveinvolvedcouplesbasedoutsideIndiaespeciallyintheUS&Canada.TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofStatehaspublishedthefollowingtravelwarning:

AnumberofUSmenwhohavecometoIndiatomarryIndiannationalshavebeenarrestedandchargedwithcrimesrelatedtodowryextraction.ManyofthechargesstemfromtheUScitizensinabilitytoprovideanimmigrantvisaforhisprospectivespousetotravelimmediatelytotheUnitedStates.[1]

ThecourtssometimesordertheUScitizentopaylargesumsofmoneytohisspouseinexchangeforthedismissalofcharges.ThecourtsnormallyconfiscatetheAmericanspassport,andhemustremaininIndiauntilthecasehasbeensettled.[

2]

ItisstatedinTravelAdvisorybyUS,sincethepolicemayarrestanyonewhoisaccusedofcommittingacrime(eveniftheallegationisfrivolousinnature),theIndiancriminaljusticesystemisoftenusedtoescalatepersonaldisagreementsintocriminalcharges.Thispracticehasbeenincreasinglyexploitedbydissatisfiedbusinesspartners,contractors,estrangedspouses,orotherpersonswithwhomtheUScitizenhasadisagreement,occasionallyresultinginthejailingofUScitizenspendingresolutionoftheirdisputes.Attheveryleast,suchcircumstancescandelaytheUScitizen'stimelydeparturefromIndia,andmayresultinanunintendedlong-termstayinthecountry.CorruptioninIndia,especiallyatlocallevels,isaconcern,asevidencedbyTransparencyInternationalsCorruptionPerceptionIndexof3.5,rankingIndiain72ndplaceoftheworldscountri

es.[11]

Inawellpublicizedcase,Dr.BalamuraliAmbati,whoearnedhisMDatage17,andhisfamilyweredetainedinIndiaforoverthreeyearsinasuitrelatedtoallegeddowrydemandsbythefamilyforhisbrother'swifeArchana,whichdelayedDr.Ambati'sentrytotheophthalmologyprogramfortwoyears,leavinghimtobeginhisresidencyin1998.AllchargesagainsthimweredismissedinOctober1996andallhisfamilymemberswereacquittedinJune1999.[12]

DuringthecourseofthetrialtheAmbatisproducedatapeinwhichthefatherofArchanademandedUS$500,000todropallthechargesalthoughthedetailsofthisparticularcasearestilldebatedinIndia.[citationneeded]

CriticismbySocialGroups

CriticismbyMen'sRightsmovementsAccordingtotheMen'sRightsmovementinIndia,thelawssufferfromthefollowingshortcomings:

GenderBias:Thelawsdonotrecognizecrueltyanddomesticviolenceagainstmen.ThepoliceinIndiaalmostneverregisterscomplaintsofextortionorviolenceagainstmeninadomesticrelationship,whereasregisteringacomplaintunder4

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98A(whereawomanistheaggrievedparty)iswidespread.VaguedefinitionsofDowryandStridhan.Presumptionofguilt.IPC304Bassumesthatiftheaccidentaldeathofawifehappenswithin7yearsofmarriage,itshouldbeassumedtobemurder,unlessthehusbandcanprovehisinnocence.[13]Similarly,theDowryProhibitionAct(section8-A)statesthat"WhereanypersonisprosecutedfortakingorabettingthetakingofanydowryunderSec.3,orthedemandingofdowryunderSec.4,theburdenofprovingthathehadnotcommittedanoffenceunderthosesectionsshallbeonhim."[14]Duplicationofexistinglaws:Lawsalreadyexisttodealwithoffencesagainstintimidation,violence,extortionandmurder.A"dowrydeath"canbeconsideredamurder,andademandfordowrycanbeconsideredextortionunderexistinglaws.Theadditionallaws,insteadofreformingthepolice,mostlyservetoshifttheburdenofproofontotheaccused.Acorruptpoliceforcewhichoftendoesnoinvestigationbeforearrestinginnocentpeople.HumanRightsviolations:InmostcasesinvolvingNon-ResidentIndians,theirpassportsareimpoundedandtheyarerestrictedfromtravelingoutsidethecountry.Nopenalties,inpractice,forfalsecomplaintsorforperjury.

PoliceCircularsTheMinistryofHomeAffairs,aswellasvariousStategovernments,haveissuednotificationsandcircularswhichlimitthearbitraryarrestsmadebyPoliceduringinvestigationofdowry-relatedoffences.[15]

DemandsforAmendingthelawTheMalimathcommitteein2003proposedmakingamendmentstothissectionalthoughsuchamendmentswereopposedbyWomen'sgroups.[citationneeded]

TheCentreforSocialResearchIndiahasreleasedaresearchreport[3]opposingamendmentstosection498A.Accordingtothisreport,inthestudiedcasestherewerenoconvictionsbasedsolelyonsection498A.Thereporthoweverstatesthat6.5percentofthestudiedcaseswerefalsified.Theyalsostatethatmanypeoplebelievethelawhasbeenabusedby"educatedandindependentmindedwomen."Apoliceofficialassertedthatinhisdistrictone-thirdofdowrymurdercaseswerefoundtotallyfalsebythepolice.[4].

However,onDecember17,2003,thethenMinisterofStateforHomeAffairs,I.D.Swamisaid:ThereisnoinformationavailablewiththeGovernmenttocometotheconclusionthatmanyfamiliesinIndiaaresufferingduetoexaggeratedallegationsofharassmentanddowrycasesmadebywomenagainsttheirhusbandsandotherfamilymembersinvolvingthemincriminalmisappropriationandcruelty.[5]

On20July2005,JusticesArijitPasayatandH.K.SeemaoftheIndianSupremeCourtdeclaredSection498Atobeconstitutional."Theobjectistostrikeattherootofdowrymenace.Butbymisuseoftheprovisionanewlegalterrorismcanbeunleashed.Theprovisionisintendedtobeusedasashieldandnotanassassin'sweapon.If[the]cryof"wolf"ismadetoooftenasaprank,assistanceandprotectionmaynotbeavailablewhentheactualwolfappears,"theBenchsaid.[6

].

InAugust2010,theSupremeCourtaskedtheGovernmentofIndiatoamendtheDowryLawstopreventtheirmisuse.[16]

SocialRepercussionsInurbanIndia,themajorityoffamilieshaveinadequateknowledgeregardingsection498AoftheIndianPenalCode,1860.

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Eventemporaryimprisonmentfollowedbyacquittalleadstolossofsocialstanding.

Divorcedmenandwomenwhoareinvolvedinlitigationfinditalmostimpossibletogetmarriedagain.