What is Dowry System in India ?

It has been a well-established institution among the propertied classes of various lands and times, e.g., in ancient Greece and Rome, India, medieval Europe, and modern continental countries.

Generally the husband has been compelled to return the dowry in case of divorce or the death of the wife when still childless.

Twenty-one dowry deaths are reported across the country every day. The conviction rate, however, is less than 35 per cent. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) states that in 2015, as many as 7,634 women died in the country due to dowry harassment.

Although the origin of the custom lies with parents trying to assure financial stability for their daughters, in current perspective it has translated into parents paying up for the assurance of well-being of their daughters.

Generally the husband has been compelled to return the dowry in case of divorce or the death of the wife when still childless.

The jewelry and cash that a bride brings with her from her parents’ house is often referred to as “Streedhan” and in theory is the property of the girl, but in reality it is often treated as their rightful due by the groom’s family.

Twenty-one dowry deaths are reported across the country every day, but the conviction rate is only 34.7 per cent.

One purpose of the dowry was to provide support for the wife on the husband's death, and thus it was related remotely to the rights of dower.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) states that in 2015, as many as 7,634 women died in the country due to dowry harassment. Either they were burnt alive or forced to commit suicide over dowry demand.

One purpose of the dowry was to provide support for the wife on the husband's death, and thus it was related remotely to the rights of dower.

The sum to be paid as dowry has no set standard, the yardstick greatly depends on the groom’s profession/social standing and is often perceived as the groom’s family as the compensation of efforts they have made to educate their boy.

Data further reveals that after registration of dowry deaths, police have chargesheeted around 93.7 per cent of the accused, of which only 34.7 per cent have been convicted. The remaining cases are still pending in various courts.

In a more subtle perspective, one may define this custom as the unquestioned idea that the girl’s family is inferior in standing with the boy’s family, no matter what her qualities are.

One purpose of the dowry was to provide support for the wife on the husband's death, and thus it was related remotely to the rights of dower.

According to Delhi Police, till March 15 this year, 31 women died due to dowry harassment.

According to Delhi Police, till March 15 this year, 31 women died due to dowry harassment.

According to Delhi Police, till March 15 this year, 31 women died due to dowry harassment.

Thus they need to be on their best behavior and offer lavish “gifts” to please the boy’s family.

In civil-law countries the dowry is an important form of property. In England and the United States (except for Louisiana), the dowry system is not recognized as law.

In the last five years, as many as 715 cases of dowry deaths have been reported in the national Capital and the crime rate have been increasing with every passing year.

This ideal is so ingrained in the psyche of a large number of Indians, they either practically ruin themselves financially in order to pay for the appropriate price of the chosen groom, or make a bid to eradicate the prospect of this financial burden by selective gender-biased abortion or female infanticide.

Moreover, in Delhi, around 3,877 cases of cruelty by in-laws and husbands have been registered in 2016. Till March 15 this year, as many as 506 such cases have been reported in the city. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, prohibits the request, payment or acceptance of a dowry 'as consideration for marriage', and dowry here is defined as a gift demanded or given as a precondition for marriage.

This exploitative system that has turned the custom of giving gifts and well wishes into a compulsory demand for money, respect and subjugation, is the one of the major contributing factors hindering the growth of the Indian society where being a woman is still viewed synonymous to being a burden.

"Dowry" was used in Church Law only in reference to institutes of women religious and never to marriage

Moreover, in Delhi, around 3,877 cases of cruelty by in-laws and husbands have been registered in 2016. Till March 15 this year, as many as 506 such cases have been reported in the city. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, prohibits the request, payment or acceptance of a dowry 'as consideration for marriage', and dowry here is defined as a gift demanded or given as a precondition for marriage.