Question

Can the Dowry Prohibition Act be misused?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

a. Dowry Prohibition act has certainly provided a legal protection and recourse to women, to safeguard themselves from the harassment and torture caused by their husband, his family while demanding dowry.
b. It is certainly an important weapon to counter the menace of dowry and eliminate the social evil.
c. It has definitely reduced the cases of dowry and has made justice accessible to women .
d. It has allowed women to raise their voice and come from the narrow prism which the society and men created for her.
e. Critics however have argued, that such laws are more sensitive to the weaker sex, ignoring issues concerning men and their families.
f. At times there have been cases of false complaints, misuse of dowry act by women in order take compensation from men.
g. Law enforcing agency at times fail to accept male's version in the entire case, much to their disadvantage.
h. However, we may argue that such cases are miniscule, as the the very idea of patriarchy, of men's domination as natural and inevitable is widespread in Indian society.
i. Women have been targets of violence, of the so called social rituals, taboos and have been confined.
j. Laws like Dowry prohibition only gives them a legal protection, a medium to vent their concerns.
k. Not many though are aware of such acts, nor at times are in a position to use them to their advantage


Regards