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The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

Central

An Act to prohibit the giving or taking of dowry.

Act number
28 of 1961
Ministry
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Enacted
20 May 1961

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

13 sections

  1. Section 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. Section 2Definition of “dowry”.
  3. Section 3Penalty for giving or taking dowry.
  4. Section 4Penalty for demanding dowry.
  5. Section 4ABan on advertisement.
  6. Section 5Agreement for giving or taking dowry to be void.
  7. Section 6Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or her heirs.
  8. Section 7Cognizance of offences.
  9. Section 8Offences to be cognizable for certain purposes and to be bailable and non-compoundable.
  10. Section 8ABurden of proof in certain cases
  11. Section 8BDowry Prohibition Officers
  12. Section 9Power to make rules
  13. Section 10Power of the State Government to make rules