NEWS: 16 women died every day due to dowry-related violence as revealed by the National Crime Record Bureau’s (NCRB)
CONTEXT
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961à Dowry is “any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly, by one party to a marriage to the other party, at or before or any time after the marriage”.
Current Status (as per NCRB 2024 Data)
- Crime against womenà Of 4,41,534 cases 27.2% cases were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or Relatives’.
- India recorded 5,737 dowry deaths in 2024.
- Uttar Pradeshà Reported the highest number of cases (2,038), followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
Related Legal Provisions
- Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961à Criminalizes the act of giving, taking, or demanding dowry.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)à Section 80 (formerly Section 304B of the IPC) strictly penalizes dowry deaths, while Section 85 (earlier IPC Section 498A) addresses cruelty by a husband or his relatives.
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005à Enacted to protect women from domestic violence.
- Section 118 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) (previously Section 113B of the Evidence Act, 1872) raises a presumption of guilt against the accused.
Supreme Court Directions of 2025
- Appointment of Dowry Prohibition Officers (DPOs)à Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
- Police and judicial officers should periodically receive training.
- High Courts are requested to take stock of the number of cases.
- Grassroots Awareness Programs by district administration, change in education curriculum for awareness