The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

S.1 Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

(2) It extends to the whole of India ¹***

(3) It shall come into force on such date² as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

S.2 Definition of “dowry”.

In this Act, "dowry" means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly--

(a) by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or

(b) by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person;

at or before ¹[or any time after the marriage] ²[in connection with the marriage of the said parties, but does not include] dower or mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applies.

³*¹[(1)] If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable ²[with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ³[five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry, whichever is more]:

Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than ⁴[five years].]

⁵[(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to, or in relation to,--

(a) presents which are given at the time of a marriage to the bride (wi

S.4 Penalty for demanding dowry.

¹[4. Penalty for demanding dowry.--If any person demands, directly or indirectly, from the parents or other relatives or guardian of a bride or bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees:

Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months.]

S.4A Ban on advertisement.

¹[4A. Ban on advertisement.--If any person--

(a) offers, through any advertisement in any newspaper, periodical, journal or through any other media, any share in his property or of any money or both as a share in any business or other interest as consideration for the marriage of his son or daughter or any other relative,

(b) prints or publishes or circulates any advertisement referred to in clause (a),

he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to five years, or with fine which may extend to fifteen thousand rupees:

Provided that the Court may, for adequate and s

S.5 Agreement for giving or taking dowry to be void.

Any agreement for the giving or taking of dowry shall be void.

S.1 Short title, extent and commencement.

S.2 Definition of “dowry”.

S.4 Penalty for demanding dowry.

S.4A Ban on advertisement.

S.5 Agreement for giving or taking dowry to be void.

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