TRIVANDRUM, 18 July 2004 — An alarming rise in dowry deaths and harassments has forced the Kerala government to issue new guidelines giving more teeth to the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961.
Under the act, any person who gives, takes or abets dowry is punishable with imprisonment of not less than five years and fine which shall not be less than 15,000 rupees or the value of the dowry, whichever is more.
Mere demand for dowry is punishable in India and a person demanding dowry can get imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of up to 10,000 rupees. Any agreement between the parties involved is void under the act.
Despite stringent laws and best efforts by the social activists, few marriages take place without dowry in India as the law-enforcing authorities turn a blind eye.
The Kerala government order, Kerala Dowry Prohibition Rules, 2004, issued last week directs all government staff getting married to furnish a declaration, countersigned by his wife, father and father-in-law, to his head of the department after marriage that he has not taken any dowry.
The state government also appointed dowry prohibition officers to monitor and prevent the perpetration of the dowry system and to make the rules more effective. The revenue divisional officers were being entrusted with this additional task and this had hampered the effective implementation of the act.
Regional dowry prohibition officers will be appointed at Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut with independent charge.
The director of social welfare will be the chief dowry prohibition officer, to whom the RDP officer will report, according to the notification posted on the state government website www.kerala.gov.in.
The public is encouraged to go to this website to get more information.
The 2004 State Rules, issued in place of the 1992 Kerala Dowry Prohibition Rules, contains some of the long-standing demands of the National and State Women’s Commissions.
The bride, her parents or a relative or any recognized welfare institution or organization can file the complaint in writing to the RDP officer.
The officer should enquire into every petition and record the finding within a month.
His approach shall be primarily preventive and remedial.
Prosecution may be resorted to only if the parties involved do not comply with his orders within the stipulated time.
