Chandigarh, Jan 1: A candle march was held here in the heart of the city this evening to ''Unwelcome the coming Year'' by the families ''ruined by the misuse of the anti dowry act''. 

A group of the ''dowry act victims'', including children and the elderly, gathered in the posh sector 17 and lit candles to show their resentment towards the 'apathetic' government and the judiciary. 

They also brandished slogans demanding reforms in the ''unfair'' law and urging to ''save the family and the society.'' ''Hundreds of families have been ruined, thousands of jobs were taken away, but one thing which still remained unchanged is the draconian law'' the protesters said. 

The families termed the anti-Dowry Act 498 A as one of the easiest way for brides and their families to ''earn good money, which is more dangerous than 302'', they claimed. 

They termed the years goneby, including 2009, as ''Black'' due to the sufferings, harassment and mental trauma caused to a number of families which were falsely implicated in the FIRs.