Paper: GS – II, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Issues of women, Issue: Persistence of Dowry in India.
Context:
Despite multiple laws, justice delivery in dowry-related cases remains weak.Women continue to suffer torture and death due to dowry demands.Families, society, and institutions often fail victims of dowry violence.
Key Highlights:
Legal Framework:
- Anti-Dowry Laws:
- First introduced in 1961.
- Strengthened in 1983 to curb dowry-related violence with heavy penalties.
Structural Issues:
Case Study:
Nikki Bhati Case
- Victim: 28-year-old woman, tortured and killed by husband and in-laws.
- Aftermath:
- Despite substantial dowry given, harassment continued.
- Panchayat pressured family to compromise.
- Debate on invoking anti-dowry laws largely absent.
- Normalization of Misogyny:
- Patriarchal narratives blame women instead of perpetrators.
- Example: “Don’t men suffer bad marriages too?”
- Social Media Trends:
- Campaigns like #JusticeForNikki highlight public anger.
CCTV footage shared, yet online discourse often trivializes women’s suffering.
Way Forward:
Conclusion:
Dowry-related violence reflects the deep cracks in India’s legal, social, and cultural systems. Despite strong laws, weak enforcement, caste–patriarchy nexus, and victim-blaming attitudes continue to fail women. Real justice requires not just penal action, but also social reform, institutional accountability, and cultural change to ensure women’s dignity and safety.
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