New Delhi: The Supreme Court today expressed concern over growing dowry culture in the society saying it is a “social malaise” which must be dealt with firmly.
Holding dowry as a disgraceful and distressing reality, a bench of justices T S Thakur and Vikramajit Sen at the same time also said the penal provision against dowry harassment is being abused.
“Judges cannot be blind to the disgraceful and distressing reality vis-à-vis dowry, which prevails in some sections of our society. What we find extremely disconcerting is that this social malaise is spreading amongst all religious communities. The demand of dowry is a social anathema, which must be dealt with firmly,” it said.
The bench also said that courts should not quash proceedings on a complaint of a woman in dowry harassment case merely on the ground of delay in filing the case.
It said the bride endures the ill treatment and taunts knowing that the marriage would be undermined and jeopardized by running to the police station.
“It would be idle and in fact illogical to contend that law expects that on the first demand of dowry, prosecution under Section 498-A (harassment by husband or in-laws) has to be commenced.