Kerala proposes stringent anti-dowry legislation

KOCHI: In an effort to curb dowry related atrocities, state government proposes to introduce more harsh regulations in the Dowry Prohibition Act. Limiting the presents given by parents to the bride to Rs100, 000 and 10 sovereigns of gold and mandatory premarital counselling for the bride and groom are some of the new proposals.

These recommendations were submited by the Kerala State Women’s Commission before the government ater the suicide of Vismaya, a young woman from Nilamel in Kollam following dowry harassment.

Administration is planning to amend the relevant rules in the anti-dowry law as well as Marriage Registration Rules. A drat of the amended rules would be presented to the Law Department ater considering feedback from the public and government departments.

According to official sources, the central government’s sanction would be needed to amend the law to include some suggestions of the Women’s Commission. The state government would send the drat to the Centre for approval.

The authorities have started discussions with stakeholders and invited public opinion on the issue ater the women’s panel and various women’s organisations exerted pressure on the government to act. Suggestions from the Local Self-government Department are also awaited.

The opinion of the Director, Women and Child Development Department, on the mater has already been submited to the government.

The state government so far ignored another recommendation of the Women’s Commission to introduce topics on Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act and POCSO Act in the syllabus from high-school level.

According to the existing law, value of items presented to bride by parents should not exceed Rs25,000. Relatives also should present gits valued up to Rs25,000 only. Bride will have the exclusive right over the use of the items gifted to her. A notary or gazetted officer should atest the list of wedding gits received. This attested list should be attached to the application for marriage registration. Mandatory premarital counselling should be arranged by the local body. While applying for marriage registration, the certificate for having completed the counselling has to be attached.

In 2021, there was public outrage in the state over two shocking incidents of death of women allegedly due to the dowry-related domestic violence. In a shocking incident, another 24-year old woman was found dead with burn injuries at her rented home where she was staying with her husband in coastal Vizhinjam in Trivandrum.