DP act sections 3,4, and 5:
3. PENALTY FOR GIVING OR TAKING DOWRY.
- If any person, after the commencement of this Act,gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry, whichever is more.4. PENALTY FOR DEMANDING DOWRY.
-If any person demands directly or indirectly, from the parents or other relatives or guardian of a bride or bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.5. AGREEMENT FOR GIVING OR TAKING DOWRY TO BE VOID.-Any agreement for the giving or taking of dowry shall be void.
In most of the complaints it has been stated that before marriage dowry was demanded and bride's father AGREED to pay and did so. Then after marriage more dowry was demanded.......
Why police or court does not consider this section 5 of DP act? Just they blindly file DP4 (for demand only), even if they file DP3 (giving and taking) they exclude the dowry giver from the charges.
Usually the complainant says that dowry was demanded BEFORE MARRIAGE (during engagement or other occasion). No one can do cruelty against her before marriage for NOT AGREE TO PAY DOWRY TO MARRY HIM. Whether marry or not marry the dowry demander is her choice. She can rightaway file complaint to the police about the dowry demand. But she did not!
I believe still in india marriages are arranged by mutual understanding of two families and other formal family visits. No one kidnap the lady and demand dowry and force her to marry him. This is the fact. If so the bride's family knowingly and voluntarily involved in the dowry offence, they agreed to pay the dowry and did so.
Offence is offence, who ever commits, bride or bridegroom, before marriage or after marriage. Does not matter. Courts must have to see the "interest of justice" not the gender.
Why Dowry law does not punish the families who knowingly involved and encouraged the dowry offence before marriage by agreeing and giving. They are the first culprits, they support the offence in the first place and pave the way for the future crimes in the society, and make the groom's mind for future demand and crimes.
Almost all the complaints are lodged by well educated families/women. All educated persons in india know very well that dowry is an offence. How come they can escape from the offence they committed. Why police and courts are not considering this as a crime!
Laws are meant to study in the law books only! Not to provide justice to innocents.