Declare marriage expense to avoid dowry complaints: SC

The Supreme Court has proposed to couples to make a joint declaration of expenditure incurred on their marriage before a competent authority to avoid matrimonial disputes over demands for dowry.

The top court also suggested crediting a part of the money intended to be spent on the marriage in the bank account of the bride to safeguard her future.

Hearing a matrimonial dispute between a man and his wife, a bench of Justices A K Goel (since retired) and S Abdul Nazeer issued a notice to the Union government on the two proposals. The court also sought the assistance of Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha to decide if some rules could be laid down in this regard.

“We may consider the question whether details of expenditure incurred on marriage should be jointly furnished to the jurisdictional marriage officer to avoid future disputes over alleged demands for dowry,” the bench said.

“Further question whether a part of such expenditure should be kept in a deposit in the name of the wife may also be considered,” the bench added.

Costly weddings

The court asked the government to respond after framing the two issues for consideration in a transfer petition filed by a woman against her husband.

In dowry cases, it has often been seen that the complaints lodged with police centred around huge expenditure by the girls' side at the time of marriage. If expenses are accounted for and records are furnished to the authorities, it may check frivolous complaints of dowry demands and also keep a tab on ostentatious weddings.