Proposal to amend the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

The Government of India is mulling over a proposal to review/amend some provisions of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.Replying to a question in Lok Sabha today the Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. Krishna Tirath stated that the Government has a proposal for amendment to the Dowry Prohibition Act,1961 to make it more effective and prevent its misuse .The Minister revealed that No complaints/ representations alleging misuse of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 have been received. She however informed that, some complaints/ representations regarding alleged harassment of husband and other family members for inflicting cruelty on account of dowry using Section 498A of IPC, have been received.

Smt. Tirath stated that for preventing the misuse of Section 498A of IPC, Government has issued an Advisory to all the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations on 20th October, 2009. They have been advised to comply with the procedures laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and that in cases of matrimonial disputes, the first recourse should be to effect conciliation and mediation between the warring spouses and their families. The recourse to filing charges under Section 498A IPC may be resorted to where such conciliation fails and where there appears a prima facie case under Section 498A and other laws.