Dowry Deaths
Dowry means any property or valuable security given to or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly ( 1) by one party of the marriage to the other party of the marriage or (2) by the parent of either party of the marriage or (3) by any other person to either party of the marriage in connection with the marriage of the said parties.
Dower or Mahr. It is the money offered to the bride by the groom at the time of marriage, as per Muslim Personal Law, for clothes, ornaments, and other customary items at the time of marriage. This is not considered as dowry.
DEFINITION
Where the death of a woman is caused by any burn, bodily injury, or under abnormal circumstances within the seven years of her marriage, and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, that death should be termed as a dowry death. The following conditions should be considered as presumptive dowry death:
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- Murder
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- Suspected murder
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- Suicide
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- Suspected death
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- Request by relatives
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- Police consideration
MEDICOLEGAL IMPORTANCE
Suicide by a woman within this period is also considered dowry death.
The death of any other married woman below the age of 30 years should be suspected as dowry death. An inquest should be conducted by a first-class magistrate or by the police with a rank of deputy superintendent and above.
Two medical officers should carry out an autopsy
Such a husband or his relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.
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