Context

• Despite decades of legislation and activism, dowry continues to claim lives, particularly among young married women.

About Dowry

• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 defines dowry as ‘any property or valued security given or agreed to be given, directly or indirectly, to either partner in a marriage, to the other party’s parents, to any other person, is referred to as dowry’.
• Dowry-related violence and deaths are symptoms of deep-rooted patriarchy, and remains one of the most persistent forms of gender-based crimes in India.
  • In many cases, women are subjected to mental and physical abuse, culminating in suicide or murder — often by burning, poisoning, or hanging.
• Existing Legal Frameworks
• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 criminalizes giving, taking, or demanding dowry.
• Section 304B of IPC defines dowry death and prescribes punishment (minimum 7 years to life imprisonment).
• Section 498A of IPC penalizes cruelty by husband or relatives.

Dowry Deaths In India, Current Statistics

• High-Burden States: According to NCRB data for 2022, 6,450 dowry deaths were registered across India;
  • Uttar Pradesh (highest), Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Haryana together contributed 80% of all dowry death cases.
  • From NCW’s 2024 complaint data: 4,383 cases of dowry harassment (17% of total complaints): 292 cases of dowry deaths.
  • Over 60% of dowry murders occurred in West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar.
  • Cities with Highest Cases: Delhi alone accounted for 30% of all dowry death cases among India’s 19 major cities.
  • Other high-reporting cities include Kanpur, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Patna.

Causes Behind Dowry Deaths

• Cultural Acceptance: Dowry is still seen as a customary obligation, especially in arranged marriages.
• Economic Exploitation: Dowry is often used to secure financial gain or status for the groom’s family.
• Gender Inequality: Women are viewed as financial burdens, leading to coercive demands and abuse.
• Districts with skewed sex ratios show higher dowry death rates (Sex ratio imbalance).
• Illiteracy and Lack of Awareness: Many women are unaware of their legal rights or fear retaliation (Lower levels correlate with increased vulnerability).
• Delayed Justice: Investigations are often slow, and convictions rare, weakening deterrence.
• Caste and kinship structures: Hypergamy and patrilocality intensify dowry pressures.

Institutional Gaps and Policy Limitations

• Police Apathy: Investigation delays and inadequate FIRs weaken prosecution.
• Judicial Delays: Lack of fast-track courts for such gender-based crimes.
• Witness Protection: Lack of support leads to witness intimidation or withdrawal.
• Forensic and Medical Negligence: Inadequate evidence due to improper post-mortem or forensic procedures.

Concerns and Issues

• Policing and Investigations: Of the 7,000 yearly cases, only 4,500 were charge-sheeted.
• Many cases were dropped due to reasons like ‘insufficient evidence’, ‘false complaints’, or ‘misunderstanding’.
• By the end of 2022, 67% of pending dowry death investigations had been stalled for over six months.
• Delay in Charges and Trials: In 2022, 70% of the charge-sheets were filed after two months or more, showing procedural inefficiencies.
• From 6,500 trials initiated annually, only around 100 led to convictions.
• Over 90% of cases remain pending in courts.
• Acquittals, plea bargains, and withdrawn complaints account for a large number of unresolved cases.

Way Forward

• Reform Investigative Procedures:
  • Enforce time-bound charge-sheeting and mandatory oversight on delayed investigations.
  • Improve coordination between police, medical officers, and forensic labs.
• Strengthen Legal Infrastructure:
  • Fast-track courts for dowry and domestic violence cases.
  • Training police and judiciary on gender-sensitive protocols.
• Societal Intervention:
  • Gender-sensitization programs in schools, colleges, and panchayats.
  • Reward dowry-free marriages through public recognition and incentives.
• Institutional Support to Victims:
  • Expand helplines, safe houses, and victim compensation schemes.
  • Legal aid and counseling centres at district level.
• Data Transparency and Monitoring:
  • Disaggregated data publication by NCRB including details on pendency, conviction, withdrawal, and state-wise bottlenecks.