Marriage and Dowry Prohibition Act
Introduction
The system of giving dowry to girls in marriage is an ancient Indian custom. It is infact that portion of the parent’s wealth which they wish to give to the daughter. This helps the girls in question and the groom to start a home of their own. However, it is very sad that this custom has been vitiated in our times, and the system has become a menace, a social evil in our society.
Wedding are no longer happy events, but keep the brides, parents on tenterhooks lest the groom’s family demand unreasonable gifts on the eve of the weeding. Infact, quite often, the greedy groom or his parents do demand gift in cash or kind such as a motor car, video, etc. which the girls parents may not be able to fulfill. Then they are caught between the devil and the deep sea. Breaking off the wedding at the last minute brings infamy to the girl. Very often false, malicious stories are spread about her so that re-engagement and marriage becomes difficult. Often girls are driven to suicidal lengths because of the tension created by such a situation.
Another technique adopted by the boy’s family is not to make unreasonable demands before the wedding, but harass the girl after the wedding to induce her to request her parents to give the gifts they ask for. The girl is taunted at every step and her life is made a virtual hell until she can fulfill the unreasonable demands of her husband and in laws.
Another ploy used by such uncouth people is to pack the bride off to her parents house and told to come back only if she can induce her parents to give more dowry.
In such situation, the girl has no option but to accede to these demands and urge her parents to fulfill them. Sometimes, when girl know that their parents cannot fulfill these demands, they are driven to commit suicide. Even worse is the situation where the in-laws join hands to burn the bride to death, so that the son can be remarried to someone who will get them more dowry. This is the lowest level of greediness,
The system of giving dowry to girls in marriage is an ancient Indian custom. It is infact that portion of the parent’s wealth which they wish to give to the daughter. This helps the girls in question and the groom to start a home of their own. However, it is very sad that this custom has been vitiated in our times, and the system has become a menace, a social evil in our society.
Wedding are no longer happy events, but keep the brides, parents on tenterhooks lest the groom’s family demand unreasonable gifts on the eve of the weeding. Infact, quite often, the greedy groom or his parents do demand gift in cash or kind such as a motor car, video, etc. which the girls parents may not be able to fulfill. Then they are caught between the devil and the deep sea. Breaking off the wedding at the last minute brings infamy to the girl. Very often false, malicious stories are spread about her so that re-engagement and marriage becomes difficult. Often girls are driven to suicidal lengths because of the tension created by such a situation.
Another technique adopted by the boy’s family is not to make unreasonable demands before the wedding, but harass the girl after the wedding to induce her to request her parents to give the gifts they ask for. The girl is taunted at every step and her life is made a virtual hell until she can fulfill the unreasonable demands of her husband and in laws.
Another ploy used by such uncouth people is to pack the bride off to her parents house and told to come back only if she can induce her parents to give more dowry.
In such situation, the girl has no option but to accede to these demands and urge her parents to fulfill them. Sometimes, when girl know that their parents cannot fulfill these demands, they are driven to commit suicide. Even worse is the situation where the in-laws join hands to burn the bride to death, so that the son can be remarried to someone who will get them more dowry. This is the lowest level of greediness,