Centre plans changes in dowry harassment law
18 May 2015 6:07 AM IST
With an average 10,000 false dowry harassment cases being registered every year, <g data-gr-id="24">government</g> plans to amend the criminal law to prevent frequent misuse of its legal provisions.
Under the proposal, Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code will be made a compoundable offence with the permission of the courts as suggested by the Law Commission and Justice Malimath Committee.
Provisions will be kept to allow compromise and settlement between husband and wife at the onset of trial in dowry harassment cases, a Home Ministry official said.
The offence at present is non-compoundable and <g data-gr-id="22">non</g>- bailable, which provides for <g data-gr-id="23">immediate</g> arrest of the accused.
Conciliatory efforts between the hostile parties are virtually impossible. A husband or his family
members are presumed guilty till they prove their innocence in court.
The offence is punishable with a jail term of up to three years.
There have been allegations that husbands and in-laws are often charged with false dowry harassment when some marital problems arise.
As per data provided by the National Crime Records Bureau, a total number of 99,135, 1,06,527 and 1,18,866 cases, respectively, were registered in 2011, 2012 and 2013 in the country under Section 498A for cruelty by husband or his relatives.
After <g data-gr-id="27">police</g> investigation, 10,193 in 2011, 10,235 in 2012 and 10,864 cases in 2013 were found to be false or suffering from <g data-gr-id="28">mistake</g> of fact or law. If the offence is made compoundable, misuse of the law may come down hugely as there would be scope for initiating conciliation proceedings and out -<g data-gr-id="26">of-court</g> settlement.
UP: Pregnant woman hanged by husband over dowry
A 22-year-old pregnant woman was hanged to death allegedly by her husband on the instigation of her in-laws after she failed to meet their dowry demands in Rajpura area here, police said. <g data-gr-id="45">Rajmala</g> was killed by her husband Guddu Yadav after she failed to give him the dowry amount in Lehraratu village here, they said.
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