A great topic in Central Chronicle

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=36454

Personal Thought: Dowry Act misuse by women


Quite often women file/ lodge First Information Report (FIR) allegedly of harassment and return of dowry / gifts at the time of marriage. (Though dowry is banned but gifts of items in marriage especially by bride's side is still in vogue). In many cases the demand is in lakhs/ crores of rupees. Additionally charges are levied under The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. The main idea is to get maximum financial benefit even without any base -just for revenge on not adjusting within new family atmosphere and wrongly blaming the husband and his family members including senior -old persons as this law is heavily in favour of women.
In the present materialistic world, most persons try to get the knot with rich persons having immoveable properties and lucrative salaries or wealthy rich parents. Their sole motive is all luxuries in life and to extract their wealth by women by making false claims on dowry and harassment etc and by man seeking such wealthy girl in question. Unfortunately in the eye of society women are treated as weaker section and most people take their side for most matters -they have a biased opinion that women are always correct in blaming the society or men folk. Who says women are more honest in their dealings?
All in all, it is the need of the hour to make Compulsory List of Dowry / gifts items including cash / other valuable items received as gifts from relatives and friends etc and get it registered along with Marriage Registration within 30 days of performing of marriage with appropriate authorities in the State where marriage takes place. Also all exiting couples whenever got married in the past must do with option that if they do not file such a list than in future their FIR/ case of Dowry / gifts etc shall not be entertained. The list of Dowry / Gift items must be made and signed by both bride and groom's family heads and be Notarized and scanned copy be filed through E-mail -to make it simple and automatic acknowledgement be generated for it and that is sufficient proof of deposit made. One copy must be kept by groom's family and other photocopy by bride's family.
Above suggestions if implemented shall reduce number of court cases. And false cases of dowry and harassment of groom's family members shall be minimum or just vanish.
All cases of Dowry/ Gifts less than Rupees Five Lakhs be exempted from above suggested changes in the laws. Also no case of Dowry return shall be accepted or FIR registered if the amount is below Rupees Five Lakhs.
On implementation of above suggestions, Lo bhaiya, the number of court cases and FIRs shall be reduced and life of people in the society shall be more peaceful to live in!, What more is needed?
Mahesh Kapasi