3 months ago
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The authorities has informed the Kerala High Court that the Law Reforms Commission has projected a draught amendment to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
The connection is aimed astatine decriminalising the giving of dowry and encouraging radical to study dowry-related abuse. It aims to redefine dowry arsenic spot oregon invaluable information that the bridegroom oregon his relatives request from the bride oregon her family, which could adjacent pull imprisonment, the authorities said, successful a PIL filed by Tellmy Jolly, an Ernakulam native.
After signaling the submission, a Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V. M. issued announcement to the Centre seeking its basal connected the matter.
The Centre had successful September 2025 sought much clip to respond to the PIL that challenged the law validity of Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, since it besides penalised the giving of dowry. The petitioner contended that penalising the dowry giver — astir often the unfortunate oregon a household subordinate — acted arsenic a deterrent to reporting dowry-related harassment, fearing self-incrimination.
The State authorities had earlier informed the tribunal that the Women and Child Development Department had initialised a dowry prohibition portal wherever aggrieved persons tin straight record their complaints to the court. The substance has been posted for proceeding connected February 11.
