Lok Sabha Question No. 2125 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Dowry System
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.2125

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2021

## DOWRY SYSTEM

## 2125. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  dowry  system  is  still  prevalent  in certain parts specially in rural areas of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether instances of harassment for dowry/ dowry cases have declined after the enforcement of Dowry Prohibition Act and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  further  regulatory  mechanism  or  to amend the  existing  legislation  to  curb  the  dowry  system  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to create awareness on Dowry Prohibition Act to safeguard women against dowry harassment in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (b): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)   compiles and publishes information  on  crimes  in  its  publication  'Crime  in  India'  which  is  available  on  the website  of  NCRB  (https://ncrb.gov.in).  The published reports are available till the year 2020. As per information received from NCRB, the number of cases registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 during 2018, 2019 and 2020 are 12826, 13307 and 10366 respectively. Further, the cases registered under Dowry Deaths during these years are 7167, 7141 and 6966 respectively. The data shows a decline in number of cases both under  the  Dowry  Prohibition  Act,  1961  and  Dowry  Deaths  in  the  year  2020  over  the years 2018 and 2019.

(c) :     The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have adequate provisions  to  tackle  the  menace.   Presently,  there  is  no  proposal  to  amend  the  Act further.

(d) :    'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and the responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and  property  of  the  citizens  including  investigation  and  prosecution  of  crime  against women rests primarily with the respective State Governments.

Further,  the  Dowry  Prohibition  Act,  1961  prohibits  and  penalizes  giving  or  taking  of dowry  so  as  to  safeguard  women  against  dowry  harassment  and  the  Protection  of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 which defines dowry harassment within the purview of domestic violence and  provides remedies  such  as protection order, residential order etc. against it.

The Ministry undertakes awareness exercise for safety and security of women from time to time. Further, the Government, through institutions like the National Commission for Women  and  State  Women  Commissions  have  been  spreading  awareness  through seminars, workshops etc. to sensitize people about the evils of dowry system, about the various provisions of related laws etc.

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