Dowry Prohibition Act · 2
Definition of dowry
Any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given directly or indirectly by either party or their parents in connection with the marriage; excludes dower or mahr.
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Criminal
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
1961 · Ministry of Women and Child Development · 10 sections
Prohibits the giving, taking and demanding of dowry, and requires property received for the bride to be transferred to her.
Most-invoked sections
Dowry Prohibition Act · 3
Penalty for giving or taking dowry
Imprisonment of not less than five years and fine of not less than ₹15,000 or the value of the dowry, whichever is more; presents given at marriage without demand and entered in a list are excluded.
Dowry Prohibition Act · 4
Penalty for demanding dowry
Demanding dowry directly or indirectly from parents, relatives or guardians of a bride or bridegroom — six months to two years and fine up to ₹10,000.
Dowry Prohibition Act · 6
Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or her heirs
Dowry received by any person other than the woman shall be transferred to her within three months; failure is an offence.
Dowry Prohibition Act · 8A
Burden of proof in certain cases
Where a person is prosecuted for taking, abetting or demanding dowry, the burden of proving that no offence was committed is on that person.
The text shown is a working summary used inside Nyaya for grounding and UI preview. For verbatim reproduction, refer to the bare Act published on indiacode.nic.in.