What are the dowry related offences under the Indian Penal Code?

Introduction

In Indian perspective, we consider marriage to be made in heaven but due to social malady the wedlock is becoming deadlock. Every passing day, we witness murder-suicide due to dowry or dowry death, bride burning. Women are forced to leave their husbands, tortured, ill-treated just to get dowry. The treatment continues even after the dowry because no one can satisfy the greed of devils. 

After seeing the gravity and seriousness of the problem, the lawmakers enacted Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 which was further amended in 1984. 

Dowry related offences are also punishable under Indian Penal Code – 

Intentional death of Woman 

Section 300 of Indian Penal Code defines Murder. If a person caused the death of a woman with intention of causing death then he shall be punished under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code with death or imprisonment for life along with fine. 

Dowry death

Section 304 B of Indian Penal Code talks about dowry death. It provides the condition under which  the death of a Woman will be considered as dowry death. 

The essential requisite – 

• death of a woman 
• caused by any burn or bodily injury and such injury doesn’t occur in normal conditions
• it caused within the seven year of woman’s marriage
• she suffered cruelty or harassed before her death
• harassed by her husband or any one in connection with, including his relatives
• caused death in connection with the demand for dowry

The minimum punishment for dowry death is imprisonment for seven years while the maximum punishment for the same is life imprisonment. 

Abetment of sucide of women 

Section 306 of Indian Penal Code talks about abetment of sucide. If a person commits sucide due to abetment then the abettor shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to ten years along with fine. 

Cruelty by husband and his relatives

Section 498 A of Indian Penal Code states the punishment for cruelty on a woman by his husband or by a relative of the husband. The punishment for the same is imprisonment which may extend to three years along with fine.