{"id":369962,"date":"2025-12-16T16:30:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T11:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=369962"},"modified":"2025-12-17T18:02:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:32:44","slug":"reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/","title":{"rendered":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Supreme Court:<\/span> While considering this challenge to the judgment of the Allahabad High Court acquitting the respondents for offences under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561850\" target=\"_blank\">498-A<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561611\" target=\"_blank\">304-B<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">Penal Code, 1860<\/a> and Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001546433\" target=\"_blank\">3<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001546434\" target=\"_blank\">4<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002808049\" target=\"_blank\">Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961<\/a>, the Division Bench of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Sanjay Karol*<\/span> and N. Kotiswar Singh, JJ., noted the rampant prevailing menace of dowry, ineffectiveness of the relevant laws and the misuse of Section 498-A and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002808049\" target=\"_blank\">Dowry Prohibition Act<\/a> and stated that, &#8220;<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">This oscillation between ineffectiveness and misuse creates a judicial tension which needs urgent resolution<\/span>&#8221;. Therefore, in order to bring about a concentrated effort to eradicate the evil of dowry on part of all the involved parties- Legislature, law enforcement, Judiciary, civil society organizations etc., the Court deemed it appropriate to issue the following directions:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>\n<p>States and even the Union Government to consider changes as are necessary to the educational curricula across levels, reinforcing the constitutional position that <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">parties to a marriage are equal to one another and one is not subservient to the other<\/span> as is sought to be established by giving and taking of money and or articles at the time of marriage. &#8220;<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">To ensure that the change brought in is able to make an impact on the efforts to eradicate this evil, it is to be ensured that the future generation, youngsters of today, are informed and made aware about this evil practice and the necessity to eschew it<\/span>&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Taking note that the law provides for the appointment of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Dowry Prohibition Officers<\/span> in States. The Court directed that it is to be ensured that these officers are duly deputed, aware of their responsibilities and given the necessary wherewithal to carry out the duties entrusted to them. The contact details (name, official phone number and email ID) of such an officer designated to this position are disseminated adequately by the local authorities ensuring awareness of citizens of the area.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>The <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">police officials<\/span>, <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">as well as judicial officers dealing with such cases, should periodically be given training<\/span>, <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">equipping them to fully appreciate the social and psychological implications<\/span> which are often at the forefront of these cases. This would also ensure a sensitivity of the concerned officials towards genuine cases versus those which are frivolous and abusive of the process of law.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>The Court requested the <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">High Courts to ascertain the number of pending cases<\/span> dealing with Section 304-B, 498-A from the earliest to the latest for expeditious disposal<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Recognizing that many people today are\/have been outside the education fold, and that it is equally, if not more so, important to reach them and make accessible and comprehensible, the relevant information regarding the act of giving or taking of dowry as also other acts sometimes associated therewith, other times independent thereof (mental and physical cruelty) is an offence in law. The Court requested the <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">District Administration along with the District Legal Services Authorities to conduct workshops\/awareness programs<\/span> at regular intervals, by engaging and involving civil society groups and dedicated social activists. &#8220;<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">This is to ensure change at the grassroot level<\/span>&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Background:<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The case began with the painful demise of a 20-year-old girl because her parents did not have the material means and resources to satisfy the wants of the husband&#8217;s family which included a coloured television, a motorcycle and Rs. 15,000. The deceased girl was burnt to death in 2001. This led to the registration of FIR.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Trial Court examined 8 witnesses on behalf of the prosecution. The defense led no evidence other than deposing in statements under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519590\" target=\"_blank\">313<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">Code of Criminal Procedure 1973<\/a> alleging false implication. The Trial Court found the Respondents (A and J) guilty, and they were sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 304-B, 3 years&#8217; imprisonment under Section 498-A and 2 years&#8217; imprisonment under Dowry Prohibition Act.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">However, when the matter reached the High Court, the respondents were acquitted. Aggrieved with this decision, the State appealed before the Supreme Court via the present appeal.<\/p>\n<h3>Court&#8217;s Assessment:<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Perusing the appeal, the Court began its assessment by underscoring that how dowry is a cross-cultural evil. The Court pointed out that this case represents, however, dowry is not a feature only amongst the Hindus, but it can also be found in other communities professing different faiths and religions. The Court noted that <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">historically, dowry was most closely associated with Hindu caste society, but over a time it diffused into Muslim practices through processes of cultural assimilation, social emulation, and inter-community influence.<\/span> The Court stated that as a result, <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">mehr<\/span> and dowry have come to coexist in complex ways. In many Muslim marriages in India, mehr continues to be stipulated, but often only in nominal terms. The real financial transfers flow from the bride&#8217;s family to the groom, effectively hollowing out the protective function of mehr. &#8220;<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">This undermines the original Islamic intention of empowering women through property ownership, as the dowry frequently ends up under the control of the husband or his family<\/span>&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 36pt; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Where dowry replaces or overshadows mehr, women lose an important bargaining tool and face greater economic vulnerability&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court further noted that although the laws such as Dowry Prohibition Act and the relevant IPC provisions sought to prohibit the practice; <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">dowry has persisted in society, slipping through the statutory definition, cloaked as &#8220;gifts&#8221;<\/span> and social expectations. This practice is, at the most basic level, at odds with the values enshrined in the Constitution, i.e., the constitutional ethos of justice, liberty, and fraternity, and more particularly, Article 14, which guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws, a principle directly undermined by a system that treats women as a source of financial extraction and reinforces structural discrimination.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 36pt; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Eliminating dowry is not only a matter of enforcing the DPA 1961 but a constitutional imperative. It fulfils the Republic&#8217;s promise that every woman should enter marriage as an equal citizen and not as the bearer of an unjust financial burden&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Coming onto adjudicating the appeal, the Court took note of the relevant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a> provisions and relevant precedents. The Court perused the witness statements made before the Trial Court and High Court and noted several inconsistencies. The Court thus had to consider the effect of effect of certain omissions or inconsistencies in the testimonies of witnesses.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court explained that the demand for dowry, and in particular, a motorcycle, a colour TV and Rs.15,000\/- in cash, have been established beyond reasonable doubt. The said demand had been reiterated just a day prior to the deceased passing away. The Court noted that the presumption under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001516695\" target=\"_blank\">113-B<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726934\" target=\"_blank\">Evidence Act, 1872<\/a> came into effect as soon as it stood proved that the deceased had been subjected to cruelty soon before her death, and went unrebutted by the defence, since no evidence was led by them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court noted that there was certain discrepancy regarding PW-2 being the eyewitness to the incident, however, it was also noted that PW-2&#8217;s statement could not be shaken by cross-examination. The Court further noted that when the harassment for dowry is proved and so is the fact that such harassment was made soon before victim&#8217;s death, then a mere statement of one of the witnesses that she was apparently happy, would not save the Respondents from guilt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court also observed that while reversing the findings of facts returned by the Trial Court, the High Court did not assign any reasons explicitly holding such findings to be erroneous\/perverse or illegal.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion and Decision:<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">With the afore-stated assessment, the Court stated that the State&#8217;s appeals should be allowed and the High Court has erred in setting aside the judgment of conviction returned by the Additional District Judge, Bijnor, and acquitting the Respondents.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Therefore, the Court restored the Trial Court&#8217;s judgment insofar as it relates to the conviction of both the Respondents as also the quantum of sentence in respect of Respondent A was concerned. However, the Court noted that Respondent J was 94 years old and thus the Court refrained from incarcerating J, however, her conviction was restored.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\">State of UP v. Ajmal Beg, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/h4mJVQTA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 SCC OnLine SC 2801<\/a>, decided on 15-12-2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">*Judgment by Justice Sanjay Karol<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For Appellant(s):<\/span> Mr. Abhishek Saket, Adv. Mr. Sudeep Kumar, AOR Ms. Amruta Padhi, Adv. Ms. Chanchal Sharma, Adv. Ms. Manisha, Adv. Ms. Rupali, Adv.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For Respondent(s):<\/span> Ms. Sadhna Sandhu, AOR Mr. Shekhar Kumar, AOR Mr. Bhanu Pratap Gupta, Adv. Ms. Shikha Sandhu, Adv. Ms. Rita Gupta, Adv. Mr. Nikhil Kumar Sharma, Adv.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\">Mr. Shantanu Krishna, AOR (A.C.)<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Penal Code, 1860 &nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"penal code, 1860\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Eliminating dowry is not only a matter of enforcing the DPA 1961 but a constitutional imperative. It fulfils the Republic&#8217;s promise that every woman should enter marriage as an equal citizen and not as the bearer of an unjust financial burden&#8221;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":369963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[2855,24304,95022,95024,95023,95021,55015,48129],"class_list":["post-369962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-supremecourt","tag-Dowry","tag-dowry-deaths","tag-dowry-in-islam","tag-dowry-prohibition-officers","tag-dowry-taking-by-muslims","tag-eradication-of-dowry","tag-justice-sanjay-karol","tag-mehr"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; appoint Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate dowry system.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate dowry system.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SCC Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-16T11:00:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-17T12:32:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"886\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"590\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sucheta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sucheta\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sucheta\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7416b8c43cd3a0a3412cf97fc17b54fa\"},\"headline\":\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-16T11:00:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-17T12:32:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1434,\"commentCount\":1,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Dowry\",\"Dowry Deaths\",\"dowry in Islam\",\"Dowry Prohibition Officers\",\"dowry taking by Muslims\",\"eradication of dowry\",\"Justice Sanjay Karol\",\"mehr\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Case Briefs\",\"Supreme Court\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/\",\"name\":\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; appoint Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC | SCC Times\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-16T11:00:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-17T12:32:44+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7416b8c43cd3a0a3412cf97fc17b54fa\"},\"description\":\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate dowry system.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp\",\"width\":886,\"height\":590,\"caption\":\"Dowry Prohibition Officers\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/16\\\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"SCC Times\",\"description\":\"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7416b8c43cd3a0a3412cf97fc17b54fa\",\"name\":\"Sucheta\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/530d4c250404c869212316d6351878b83f86bf27648031b1e6d4857a4bae4b88?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/530d4c250404c869212316d6351878b83f86bf27648031b1e6d4857a4bae4b88?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/530d4c250404c869212316d6351878b83f86bf27648031b1e6d4857a4bae4b88?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sucheta\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/author\\\/legal_editor\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; appoint Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC | SCC Times","description":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate dowry system.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry","og_description":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate dowry system.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/","og_site_name":"SCC Times","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/","article_published_time":"2025-12-16T11:00:11+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-17T12:32:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":886,"height":590,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sucheta","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sucheta","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/"},"author":{"name":"Sucheta","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7416b8c43cd3a0a3412cf97fc17b54fa"},"headline":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry","datePublished":"2025-12-16T11:00:11+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-17T12:32:44+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/"},"wordCount":1434,"commentCount":1,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp","keywords":["Dowry","Dowry Deaths","dowry in Islam","Dowry Prohibition Officers","dowry taking by Muslims","eradication of dowry","Justice Sanjay Karol","mehr"],"articleSection":["Case Briefs","Supreme Court"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/","name":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; appoint Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC | SCC Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp","datePublished":"2025-12-16T11:00:11+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-17T12:32:44+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7416b8c43cd3a0a3412cf97fc17b54fa"},"description":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate dowry system.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp","width":886,"height":590,"caption":"Dowry Prohibition Officers"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/16\/reinforce-constitutional-position-on-marriage-appoint-dowry-prohibition-officers-sc\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Reinforce constitutional position on marriage; Dowry Prohibition Officers: SC issues directions for concentrated effort to eradicate evil of dowry"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/","name":"SCC Times","description":"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/7416b8c43cd3a0a3412cf97fc17b54fa","name":"Sucheta","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/530d4c250404c869212316d6351878b83f86bf27648031b1e6d4857a4bae4b88?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/530d4c250404c869212316d6351878b83f86bf27648031b1e6d4857a4bae4b88?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/530d4c250404c869212316d6351878b83f86bf27648031b1e6d4857a4bae4b88?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Sucheta"},"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/legal_editor\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dowry-Prohibition-Officers.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33541,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2016\/01\/22\/law-laid-down-in-s-6-of-the-dowry-prohibition-act-1961-explained\/","url_meta":{"origin":369962,"position":0},"title":"Law laid down in S. 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, explained","author":"Sucheta","date":"January 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: Dealing with the dowry laws, the 3-judge bench of TS Thakur, CJI and Dr. AK Sikri and R Banumathi, JJ said that giving of dowry and the traditional presents at or about the time of wedding does not in any way raise a presumption that such a property\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/DSC_5487.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/DSC_5487.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/DSC_5487.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/DSC_5487.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/DSC_5487.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/DSC_5487.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":258534,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2021\/12\/15\/dowry\/","url_meta":{"origin":369962,"position":1},"title":"Daughter receiving presents from parents during her marriage, will be covered under \u2018Dowry\u2019? Ker HC explains in light of provision which prohibits \u2018giving or taking of dowry\u2019","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"December 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Kerala High Court: M.R. Anitha, J., decided whether gifts given to the bride during marriage by parents be covered under \u2018Dowry\u2019 or not? Instant petition was filed by the petitioner who was the husband of 4th respondent. The impugned order was passed by the 3rd respondent\/dowery prohibition officer. Petitioner\u2019s counsel\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":279716,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/12\/16\/kerala-high-court-no-patent-infirmity-in-the-order-of-conviction-to-render-it-prima-facie-erroneous-rejects-suspension-of-sentence-to-the-husband-in-vismaya-dowry-death-case\/","url_meta":{"origin":369962,"position":2},"title":"No patent infirmity in the order of conviction to render it erroneous; Kerala High Court rejects suspension of sentence to the husband in \u2018Vismaya dowry death case\u2019","author":"Editor","date":"December 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The atrocities against women in their matrimonial homes are on the rise, and women committing suicide unable to bear the cruelty and harassment on demand of dowry are also rampant.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kerala High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/MicrosoftTeams-image-310.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":260146,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/01\/15\/dowry-prohibition-act-vis-a-vis-jk-dowry-restraint-act\/","url_meta":{"origin":369962,"position":3},"title":"J&#038;K HC | Dowry Prohibition Act vis-a-vis J&#038;K Dowry Restraint Act; HC blurs the line between the two","author":"Editor","date":"January 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Jammu and Kashmir High Court: In a case alleging dowry death, Rajnesh Oswal, J., clarified the scope and applicability of Jammu and Kashmir Dowry Restraint Act 1960. Observing that the Trial Court had conducted mini trial at the stage of framing of charge, the Bench expressed, \u00a0\u201cThe trial court was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":250332,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2021\/06\/25\/dowry-demand\/","url_meta":{"origin":369962,"position":4},"title":"Cal HC | Is mere demand of money, property, etc.  sufficient to penalise for demanding dowry? Court answers; says gifts exchanged out of love are not dowry","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"June 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Calcutta High Court: Bibek Chaudhuri, J., expressed that, voluntary presents given at or before or after the marriage to the bride or the bridegroom, as the case may be, of a traditional nature, which are given not as a consideration for marriage but out of love, affection on regard, would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/calcutta-court.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/calcutta-court.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/calcutta-court.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/calcutta-court.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/calcutta-court.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":86551,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2016\/11\/18\/factum-of-unnatural-death-within-7-years-of-marriage-is-not-ipso-facto-sufficient-for-conviction-for-dowry-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":369962,"position":5},"title":"Factum of unnatural death within 7 years of marriage is not ipso facto sufficient for conviction for dowry death","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"November 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: In the appeal filed by the in-laws of the deceased upon being aggrieved by the conversion of their acquittal into conviction by the High Court under Sections 498A and 304B IPC, the Court said if the prosecution fails to demonstrate by cogent coherent and persuasive evidence to prove\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=369962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/369963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=369962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}