Govt planning to make dowry act tougher

Income-linked cap on marriage expenditures and the provision for registration of gifts at the time of ceremony are among a number of measures that are being considered by the central government to make the Dowry Prohibition Act tougher.

Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath Thursday said income-related cap on expenditures was among the suggestions given by the National Commission for Women (NCW), but the proposal was still in "premature stage".

"We will consider it. It may be included when it is in a mature stage," Tirath said.
She also said that any provision on protecting the husband against false allegations was not part of the bill at this stage.

Other recommendations included the provision for registration of list of gifts received at the time of marriage and penalty for not maintaining such list, she told the upper house.
Women will also be allowed to file the case from their residence, as per the recommendations.