Views of ministries sought for amending anti-dowry law: Government

NEW DELHI: The Women and Child Development Ministry is eliciting views of other ministries before amending the anti-dowry Act, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"We have sought views from other departments on the issue (proposed amendment to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961)," Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath said during Question Hour.

The amendment bill was drafted taking into account the recommendations of the National Commission for Women (NCW).

However, NCW's suggestions were opposed by NGOs, she said. The NCW had suggested amendment to the definition of dowry, provision of registration of lists of gifts received at the time of marriage, provision of separate penalties for giving and taking of dowry among others, she said.

Tirath said the NCW held further consultation and provided the minutes of the same to the ministry. Thereafter, the ministry held regional and national consultations on the issue.

"Currently, the ministry is examining the proposed amendments in the light of the deliberations made in these consultations," she said.

Replying to a separate question, she said 19 states, including Bihar and Rajasthan, have formulated dowry prohibitive rules on the model circulated by the Centre.