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There is no time limit on when you can file a complaint under this law. You can file a complaint of dowry anytime after marriage. However, you cannot file a complaint after a divorce.
The practice of giving, taking, demanding and advertising dowry is illegal. In case you have had to pay dowry at the time of your wedding, or someone from your family has paid on your behalf, or you personally know of someone who has had to pay dowry as a condition for marriage, any of the following options are available to you:
- Complaint at the local police station by filing an FIR.
- Complain to the Dowry Prohibition Officer in your district.
- Write to the appropriate judicial authority for your case (Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate First Class).
- Another option is to approach any social welfare institution or recognized welfare organization recognized by the Government and process your complaint through them.
In case you have been coerced into paying dowry, you can still file a complaint against the offenders.
If you were forced to pay dowry and you complained to the police charges of the offence of dowry will not be brought against you.
Sana
August 19, 2022
Please Help Me
Nyaaya
August 19, 2022
Please tell us what you need help with?
Manish Kumar Pradhan
September 20, 2022
Hello I am from Bhubaneswar
My sister’s law house torturing her in dowry case..
Plz help…
Nyaaya
October 7, 2022
Hi, we are sorry to hear about your sister’s difficulties. You can file a complaint on behalf of your sister, if she is facing cruelty or domestic violence. You can find information about the helplines in our explainer, here
Bhaii
March 6, 2024
Why you are not helping all….. Still many are facing case of dowry…..🙏🏻
Huma
October 24, 2024
Mere shadi ko 1 sal ho chuka h mere sas sasur dever or jeth sadakt or sharukh mere sath mar pith krte h dhej k mang krte h. 17.10.2024 k rat 8 bje mera dever sharukh mere kamre m aya mere pati ghar per nhi the usne mere sath zabardasti krne k koshis kre jethani n hath pakde or mara koy action nhi liya gya h plz help m
Sunny
September 8, 2024
Sir /mam
Maine ya meri family ne meri shadi me kisi bhi trah ke dahej ki koi mang nhi ki….. Or na hi shadi hume kuch mila. Or chhoti chhoti gift diye woh sasural ne apni marzi se diye…. Ab wife ne divorce case or 125 crpc me mujh pr or meri family pr dahej lene ka aarop lagaya hai… Kya me iski shikayat thane me kr skta hu?
Deepak Agarwal
June 8, 2023
Need help with filing Dowry Case against my inlaws
Kokila
June 17, 2023
How to tackle this dowry problem in house. Husband is supporting me but all his grandparents and his mother. Treating me like a street dog at home. Playing dual at presence and not presence of my husband.
Alka Manral
July 8, 2024
I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing this. Tackling the dowry problem and dealing with mistreatment can be challenging, but here are some steps you can take:
Communicate with Your Husband: Have an open and honest conversation with your husband about the mistreatment you’re facing. Explain how it’s affecting you and ask for his support in addressing it with his family.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries with your in-laws. Let them know what behavior is unacceptable and that you won’t tolerate mistreatment.
Seek Mediation: If possible, involve a neutral third party, such as a trusted family member, religious leader, or counselor, to mediate and help resolve the conflicts.
Document Everything: Keep a record of any incidents of mistreatment, including dates, times, and details. This documentation can be useful if you need to seek legal or professional help later.
Know Your Rights: Educate yourself about your legal rights regarding dowry and domestic abuse. In many countries, demanding dowry and mistreatment related to dowry are illegal.
Seek Support: Reach out to support groups, women’s organizations, or counseling services that can provide you with emotional support and practical advice.
Self-Care: Take care of your mental and physical health. Engage in activities that make you happy and help you relax. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed.
Remember, you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Don’t hesitate to take steps to protect yourself and seek help when needed.
Sikha
November 8, 2024
I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing this. Tackling the dowry problem and dealing with mistreatment can be challenging, but here are some steps you can take:
Communicate with Your Husband: Have an open and honest conversation with your husband about the mistreatment you’re facing. Explain how it’s affecting you and ask for his support in addressing it with his family.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries with your in-laws. Let them know what behavior is unacceptable and that you won’t tolerate mistreatment.
Seek Mediation: If possible, involve a neutral third party, such as a trusted family member, religious leader, or counselor, to mediate and help resolve the conflicts.
Document Everything: Keep a record of any incidents of mistreatment, including dates, times, and details. This documentation can be useful if you need to seek legal or professional help later.
Know Your Rights: Educate yourself about your legal rights regarding dowry and domestic abuse. In many countries, demanding dowry and mistreatment related to dowry are illegal.
Seek Support: Reach out to support groups, women’s organizations, or counseling services that can provide you with emotional support and practical advice.
Self-Care: Take care of your mental and physical health. Engage in activities that make you happy and help you relax. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed.
Remember, you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Don’t hesitate to take steps to protect yourself and seek help when needed.
M.ktishnaveni
July 17, 2023
Hi mam my self krishnaveni from Hyderabad my mother in law took my gold and not returning to me.and asking for flat if we want that gold in return.plz help me mam
Alka Manral
August 20, 2024
This is an indirect form of asking for dowry and is punishable under the Dowry prohibition act, 1961. You can directly approach the nearest police station and explain your situation. Further you can also approach State Women’s Commission in Hyderabad to file a complaint about the harassment and extortion. Alternatively, You can file a civil suit with the help of a lawyer for the recovery of gold.
Bhagyashree mohapatra
September 16, 2023
Hi mere bhai ki shadi Hui thi November 30 2022 klme but Jo bhabi h wo apne mummy aur behen se milke without any 0roof without anything mere bhai ki dhamki de rahi h kyun ki wo chahti h mere bhai ko alag leke rakhne ko mere papa nai h meri mummy akeli h to Bhai mummy k pas rehena chahta h avi Hume unki dhamkiyon se Darr h ki kahi wo kuch jhute case me na fasaye Bhai ko
Siya
February 10, 2024
My Aunt is getting married. Well it’s an arrange marrige but the groom demands dowry before marriage . But we already dealing with financial difficulties and they demand 3 lakh car And 8 lakh cash . The groom is in police department so is my aunt
Alka Manral
April 30, 2024
Under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, dowry is a crime. A person cannot give dowry, recieve it or even demand it. The punishment is a fine along with improsonment of the person. You can approach your local police station and file a complaint. If the marriage has already taken place, then demanding dowry is also ‘cruelty’, under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. This section says that if the husband or his relatives ask the wife to meet any unlawful demand for dowry, then it is an offence punishable with fine and imprisonment. If you do not want to go to the police station, you can go to the District Magistrate Court with the help of a lawyer and file a complaint. You can also file a complaint with the National Commission of Women for dowry harrassment – http://ncw.nic.in/ncw-cells/complaint-investigation-cell – this complaint can be done on call as well as by registering it in a written format. You can call the Commission at this number: 7827-170-170
Alka Manral
May 21, 2024
Under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, dowry is a crime. A person cannot give dowry, receive it or even demand it. The punishment is a fine along with improsonment of the person. You can approach your local police station and file a complaint. If the marriage has already taken place, then demanding dowry is also ‘cruelty’, under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. This section says that if the husband or his relatives ask the wife to meet any unlawful demand for dowry, then it is an offence punishable with fine and imprisonment. If you do not want to go to the police station, you can go to the District Magistrate Court with the help of a lawyer and file a complaint. You can also file a complaint with the National Commission of Women for dowry harassment – http://ncw.nic.in/ncw-cells/complaint-investigation-cell – this complaint can be done on call as well as by registering it in a written format. You can call the Commission at this number: 7827-170-170
Jayanti
February 14, 2024
Can I file complaint before marriage?
My marriage is tomorrow they are forcing for dowry today
Alka Manral
May 21, 2024
Under the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, dowry includes any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given at, before or after the time of marriage. This means that one can file a complaint against dowry either before or after marriage. Demanding dowry is also punishable under the Act under section 4. The law also prohibits an indirect demand for dowry.
You can approach the local police station and file a complaint before marriage. Additionally, after marriage, if you face cruelty or harassment by your husband or his relatives, you can file a complaint under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Additionally, under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005, you can approach the Magistrate with a complaint if subjected to domestic violence after marriage.
Namrata Singh
March 4, 2024
Hi
My would be father in law has put a condition that if my family will not give him 40 tola gold and 6 lakh cash.he will break the marriage.
Alka Manral
May 21, 2024
Dowry harassment is when a husband or his family mistreats the wife to get money, property, or other valuable things. It’s against the law and can lead to punishment. There is no time limit on when you can file a complaint under this law. You can file a complaint of dowry anytime after marriage. However, you cannot file a complaint after a divorce. The practice of giving, receiving, asking for, or promoting dowry is against the law. If you had to give dowry during your wedding, if someone in your family paid on your behalf, or if you know someone who had to pay dowry as a condition for marriage, then you have several options available. 1. Complaint at the local police station by filing an FIR.
2. Complaint to the Dowry Prohibition Officer in your district.
3.Write to the appropriate judicial authority for your case (Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate First Class).4. Another option is to approach any social welfare institution or recognized welfare organization recognized by the Government and process your complaint through them.
In case you have been coerced into paying dowry, you can still file a complaint against the offenders.
If you were forced to pay dowry and you complained to the police, charges of the offence of dowry will not be brought against you.
If someone demands dowry, action can be taken against them under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The punishment for demanding dowry is imprisonment from 6 months to 2 years and fine upto Rs. 10,000. This is given in Section 4 of the act.
Additionally, you can file a FIR under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, as harassing a woman for dowry is considered cruelty and is a crime. The person convicted under this section can punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
Namrata Singh
March 4, 2024
They are breaking my marriage I m in depression
Harpreet Kaur
May 9, 2024
My sister in law and her parents had filed complaint against us for dowry and harassment on me and my maternal family. We haven’t asked for anything or havnt even did any torture or harassment. Instead they did all these things with my brother. Kindly suggest what should we do now.
And its my appeal to governments of India plz look to the matter as these days many married girls are taking advantage of this law and acquire handsome money from her husband and his family.
Alka Manral
August 20, 2024
A countersuit can be filed in such cases of false accusation under various sections of the BNS Section 356( Defamation), can also be held for Criminal conspiracy under Sec 61 of BNS, Section 227(Giving false evidence) of the BNS
Kousar Pillai
June 4, 2024
I need help please not take complete in local police station last 3 years to still my 3 kids with me I am so much upset only running police station no one fir taken
Alka Manral
September 3, 2024
1) You have various remedies for help. Under the Protection of Women from Domestic Abuse Act 2005, Section 2(H) also contains the provision for dowry, and Section 3(b) of the same Act also contains harassment, harm, injury, or endangering life to obtain dowry. Thus, under these provisions, you can file a DIR (Domestic Incident Report) at the police station. To do this, you can go to the Protection Officer of your district who will record the DIR under Section 9 (1)(b) (2) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Abuse Act 2005. To access the Protection Officer, you can contact the State Women and Child Development Department where each state will have the list of Protection Officers on its website. You can also directly approach the Magistrate or a police officer to file a DIR. 2) You can also file an FIR under Section 85 of the BNS, 2023 for subjecting a married woman to cruelty which under Section 86(b) is also expanded to include harassment for property. You can go to any police station regardless of where you live and file an FIR either orally or in writing under Section 173 of the BNSS, 2023, and the officer in charge will be mandated to accept it.