Dowry or dahej is payment of cash by the bride’s family to the to the bridegroom’s family with the giving away of the bride (also called kanyadan) in the Indian Marriage. This is usually originated in the upper caste families as a wedding gift from the bride’s family to her. First as a gift later as an insurance to the girl incase her in-laws mistreated her. The dowry system was prohibited in the year 1961 by the Dowry prohibition Act, 1961 and in the sections 304B and 498A of Indian Penal Code. Even though Dowry has been prohibited, it remains to be highly institutionalised even today. The groom usually demands a lot of money and this system usually leads to mistreatment of the bride in the hands of the groom’s family.

The anti-dowry laws have been passed to save the bride from harassment by her husband and family. By noticing all the ill effects that the process and abuse that the bride faces, there has been a legislature drafted called the Dowry Prohibition Bill in 1961 for the protection of women. This law functions in a manner such that it works as a boon for the victims’ section 498A of the Indian Penal Code also speaks about cruelty by husband or relatives of husband

However there has also been misuse of the same law. Many false cases have come into the picture. The law is being misused more than being used. Hence, a proper judiciary to deal with such misuse must be implemented.