Dowry continues to cause deaths and violence in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, around 18 women die every day due to dowry related causes. Between 2017 and 2022, more than 35000 women were killed in dowry related incidents. In 2022, 13479 cases were registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act. Uttar Pradesh reported 2218 dowry deaths in the same year. Bihar and Madhya Pradesh also recorded high numbers.
Dowry was legal in India until 1961. The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 made giving, taking and demanding dowry a punishable offense. The law did not clearly define dowry and allowed an exception for voluntary gifts. Police often treated cases as private matters. Reports of women dying in kitchen fires in the 1970s and 1980s brought public attention to the issue. In 1979, the death of Tarvinder Kaur in Delhi led to protests.
In the 1980s, more reforms followed. Section 498A in 1983 made cruelty by husbands and in laws punishable. Section 304B in 1986 defined dowry death and created a presumption of guilt if a woman died within seven years of marriage.
Dowry demands place financial pressure on families. Many take loans to meet demands. Women face emotional stress when they are treated as financial burdens. Some families face repeated demands for cash, vehicles or property. Failure to meet these demands has led to deaths, domestic violence, suicides and fear of abandonment. Female infanticide and sex selective abortions have also been linked to dowry.
Some cases of misuse of dowry laws have been recorded. In 2022, out of 13479 cases filed under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 356 were closed as false after investigation.
Dowry remains a legal, social and economic issue. Awareness, enforcement and support systems are needed to reduce dowry related harm.
