Panel for dowry law tweak; relief for givers, stricter action on takers
The amendment, now being considered by the social justice department, can radically change how dowry crimes are prosecuted in the state.
The draft bill, titled The Dowry Prohibition (Kerala Amendment) Bill, 2025, accessed by TOI, comes in the wake of repeated cases of dowry-linked violence and deaths, where the existing legal framework often discourages survivors or their families from lodging complaints. As the law currently stands, both giving and receiving dowry are treated as criminal offences.
This has created a legal paradox of rendering victims or their families—who are often coerced into giving dowry—liable for prosecution if they speak out.
"The fear of criminal liability prevents brides or their families from coming forward," the bill observes in its explanatory note. "It is unrealistic to expect victims to voluntarily file complaints under a law that implicates them for giving dowry," it says.
The bill proposes a fundamental change to Section 2 of the existing Act by redefining dowry as property or valuable security taken or demanded by the bridegroom or his relatives—either directly or indirectly—from the bride or her family.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas In Dubai | Search Ads
Get Quote
Undo
This shifts the legal burden to those taking dowry. The commission argues that the step is critical to break the culture of silence that allows dowry abuse to thrive unchecked. It cites numerous instances of women being locked in rooms, starved, beaten or even driven to suicide over dowry demands.
The draft bill also proposes stronger deterrence by enhancing the punishment for those who demand or receive dowry. Under the proposed Section 3, offenders could face imprisonment of not less than three years, extendable to seven years, along with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or the full value of the dowry taken, whichever is higher.
Courts could also order that the recovered fine be paid as compensation to the victim or her legal heirs.
To ensure that genuine, non-demanded gifts remain protected, the amendment retains an exception for customary presents received by the bridegroom, provided these are properly recorded in accordance with the rules under the Act.
In a significant addition, it introduces a new Section 4A to penalise post-marriage cruelty related to dowry.
If a husband, with or without support from others, tortures his wife or refuses to maintain her due to non-payment of dowry, he could face imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of Rs 25,000. It also says the new section will operate in addition to any other laws currently in force.
The bill also proposes to extend the time limit within which dowry must be returned at the instance of courts from three months to one year, besides raising the fine for demanding dowry from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. The govt is expected to hold stakeholder consultations before tabling the bill in the upcoming assembly session.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Tamil Nadu Dalit techie hacked to death in ‘honour killing', police couple's son surrenders
A 27-year-old Dalit software engineer was hacked to death in broad daylight on Sunday in what police and family members described as a case of caste-based honour killing. The victim, Kavin Selva Ganesh, was allegedly murdered by the brother of a woman he had been in a long-term relationship with. The accused, 21-year-old S Surjith, surrendered to police shortly after allegedly attacking Kavin near a private Siddha hospital in KTC Nagar, Tirunelveli, where the woman, Subashini, works as a consultant. Surjith is the son of two police officers — sub-inspectors Saravanan and Krishnakumari — both of whom have also been named as co-accused in the case for allegedly inciting the crime and threatening Kavin in the past. Kavin, a native of Arumugamangalam in Thoothukudi district and an engineering graduate employed with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Chennai, had maintained contact with Subashini since their school days. According to sources, their relationship was amicable but had faced escalating hostility from the woman's family, who belong to a Most Backward Class (MBC) community. Kavin's family, who belong to a Scheduled Caste (SC), say they had been threatened multiple times. On Sunday, Kavin visited KTC Nagar to consult Subashini about his grandfather's deteriorating health. There, Surjith allegedly approached him and said their parents wished to speak with him. Trusting Surjith, Kavin got on his two-wheeler and they rode towards Astalakshmi Nagar. According to Kavin's mother, S Tamizhselvi, who filed the complaint with the Palayamkottai police, Surjith stopped the vehicle abruptly and shouted at her son, demanding how he could dare love a girl from a different caste. Surjith then reportedly pulled out a sickle hidden on his back and attacked Kavin repeatedly. Eyewitnesses say Kavin attempted to flee, but was chased down and hacked to death barely 200 metres from the hospital. The police have arrested Surjith and registered a case against him and his parents under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015. CCTV footage from the crime scene has been secured, and the victim's body was sent for post-mortem at the Tirunelveli Government Hospital. Kavin's family has refused to accept his body and is demanding legal action against Surjith's parents, who they allege were instrumental in the murder. 'They objected to the relationship from the beginning and repeatedly harassed my son. Even now, they may use their positions to influence the case,' Tamizhselvi said in her complaint. Protests erupted in parts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, demanding justice and the suspension of the accused police officers.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Is Julian Brown dead or in hiding? Mystery grows after cryptic social media posts and sudden disappearance
Is Julian Brown dead or in hiding? Mystery is deepening as Black inventor has gone missing after cryptic social media posts. Brown, a 20-something inventor from metro Atlanta, has been missing since July 9, 2025. Known for developing Plastoline , a machine that turns plastic waste into usable fuels, Brown raised concerns before vanishing. His final video and posts sparked online worry, with users questioning whether he is dead, in hiding, or under threat. Why is Julian Brown 'Certainly Under Attack'? Julian Brown posted his last video to Instagram on July 9. In the clip, he told his followers he was 'certainly under attack.' He also said he could not share full details but asked viewers to keep their 'eyes open.' He ended the video by saying he was 'still working and building,' and 'nothing' would stop that. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Design Thinking others Public Policy Finance Management PGDM Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Operations Management Leadership Project Management Cybersecurity Data Science Digital Marketing CXO healthcare Product Management Data Science Others MBA Data Analytics Degree Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks IIM Indore CERT-IIMI DTAI Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 25 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK PCP DTIM Async India Starts on undefined Get Details — Naturejab (@Naturejab) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee Surgeon: Suffering From Pain After Age 50? Do This Every Morning Wellnee Undo Before this post, Brown had shared strange messages on social media. He warned about being followed, stalked, and even claimed that black helicopters were circling his house at night. He wrote, 'They have been following me. I know I don't have long to live.' His fans have not heard from him since then. Many have posted on TikTok and Facebook, asking for updates. One message read, 'Julian Brown has reportedly been missing for more than two weeks after claiming to convert plastic waste into gasoline fuel. Share to get the word out.' Live Events Julian Brown Injury in Explosion During Testing Raised Past Concerns In 2024, Brown was injured during an explosion while testing his microwave pyrolysis machine. He suffered second-degree burns but continued working. He later updated his followers about safety improvements made to the Plastoline reactor after the incident. Despite the injury, Brown remained focused. His social media showed his ongoing experiments and progress toward making a full-scale prototype. Julian Brown's Invention and Public Outreach Julian Brown invented Plastoline, a device that uses microwave pyrolysis powered by solar energy. The machine converts plastic waste into fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. He began this project during high school and spent five years developing the technology. In a March 2025 interview with Bold Journey, Brown spoke about his goals. He said he wanted to fill the gap in real recycling systems and hoped to create something impactful. Julian Brown Business and Funding Efforts Julian Brown founded a company called Jab's Pyrolysis & Energy Recovery. His listed address was PO Box #237, 8491 Hospital Dr, Douglasville, GA 30134. He invited people to send plastic to this address for testing in his machine. His business email is business@ and his CashApp is $Naturejab. He launched a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $1 million to build a larger prototype. As of July 28, 2025, the fundraiser has collected $18,208. Growing Online Speculation about Julian Brown Some users believe Brown may be hiding. Others think he might have been targeted for challenging the interests of big oil and electric companies. No official police report has confirmed foul play, and no mainstream media outlet has covered the disappearance. One Facebook post stated, 'Hopefully they find him safe and well and he's hiding out somewhere, but he was working on good things.' Some have compared his case to stories where Black scientists were allegedly silenced. Is He in Hiding or Dead? There is no official confirmation of Julian Brown's death. His disappearance has not been publicly acknowledged by authorities. The only evidence of his condition is his last Instagram video and messages warning of threats. He may be in hiding, or he may be avoiding the public eye to focus on his work. However, his silence has led many followers to fear the worst. FAQs Is Julian Brown confirmed dead? No official confirmation exists. Julian Brown has not been declared dead, and his disappearance remains unconfirmed by authorities. Why did Julian Brown say he was under threat? He claimed he was being followed and stalked. He mentioned black helicopters and said he did not have long to live.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Campaign against stunts on roads
Patna: In a 15-day special campaign against stunts on roads, Patna traffic police identified 40 people who recorded and shared such videos on social media platforms. Traffic SP, Aprajit Lohan, said 11 people were summoned along with their motorcycles. "These violators were penalised with fines totalling Rs 95,000. Among them, four were found to be repeat offenders of traffic rules," he said. The Gandhi Maidan traffic police station registered an FIR against these people. A recommendation was also sent to the DTO requesting cancellation of driving licences and vehicle registrations of these four offenders.
