The state government has informed the Bombay High Court that as per a notification issued in 1999 senior inspectors at every police station already have the additional charge of dowry prohibition officers to ensure that during wedding ceremonies no gifts, which the bride's side would otherwise not be able to afford, are exchanged.
The state government has informed the Bombay High Court that as per a notification issued in 1999 senior inspectors at every police station already have the additional charge of dowry prohibition officers to ensure that during wedding ceremonies no gifts, which the bride's side would otherwise not be able to afford, are exchanged.
Advocate JS Saluja, appearing for the government, said while one condition of the petitioner (advocate Priscilla Samuel) has been taken care of, the other one — of police officers going to weddings to collect details of gifts exchanged — would not be in good taste as such ceremonies are social/private occasions. And the court too agrees with the government's reasoning, Saluja added.
The court has now told the petitioner to provide suggestions to the state on how to better implement the Dowry Prohibition Act, as well as directed the Centre to file a reply by March 18 on the steps it has taken for the same.
The HC was hearing Samuel's PIL, which seeks proper implementation of the Act by the state government and action against the mushrooming illegal business of marriage brokers and marriage service providers available on the internet.
The PIL claims that as per an application filed under the Right to Information Act with various police stations, wanting to know whether a dowry prohibition officer was appointed, information relayed was that enforcement was not being done by the central/state governments.
"Despite the Act coming into force in 1961, various provisions of it are still not implemented, among them being appointment of prohibition officers at police stations," it had said.
The Act's provisions make it mandatory for the officers to maintain a list of presents exchanged during weddings. However, data received from 16 police stations reveals that no offence under the Act has been registered till now. Further, the gifts exchanged should not exceed the financial status of the person on whose behalf they are given, but such investigations have never been carried out by any prohibition officer, the PIL contends.
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