The Dowry Prohibition Act
1Short 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.
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1. The words "except the State of Jammu and Kashmir" omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31-10- 2019).
2. 1st July, 1961, vide notification No. S.O. 1410, dated 20th June, 1961, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii).
All sections
- 1 Short title, extent and commencement
- 2 Definition of “dowry”
- 3 Penalty for giving or taking dowry
- 4 Penalty for demanding dowry
- 4A Ban on advertisement
- 5 Agreement for giving or taking dowry to be void
- 6 Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or her heirs
- 7 Cognizance of offences
- 8 Offences to be cognizable for certain purposes and to be bailable and non-compoundable
- 8A Burden of proof in certain case
- 8B Dowry Prohibition Officer
- 9 Power to make rule
- 10 Power of the State Government to make rule