They will only encourage and legalise dowry: AIFWA, APMPA and SIFF

HYDERABAD: All India Forgotten Women's Association (AIFWA), together with the Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA) and Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF) vehemently opposed the proposed amendments to the Dowry Prohibition Act and said they will only encourage and legalise dowry.

Purpose questioned

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Uma Challa, representing the AIFWA, along with Anil Kumar and Venu from Save Indian Family Foundation, criticised the provisions proposed under the latest amendments.

Drawing attention to the proposed mandatory requirement for couples to notify the list of gifts exchanged during the wedding, failing which could draw heavy penalty including a three-year jail term not only for the bride and the groom, but also for the parents, the All India Forgotten Women's Association representative sought to question the purpose of such listing, and if the affidavit with a list of gifts was not a way of legalising dowry.

Ms. Uma Challa also asked if the affidavit would also notify if no gifts were demanded by the husband and in-laws.

No clarity

Apart from this, the expansion of the term 'dowry' to items given before, during and at any time after marriage does not add any clarity to the definition, she said.

Inheritance

"Does the property earned or inherited by the bride before marriage amount to dowry? Or, if the girl willingly spends on her family after marriage, does it amount to dowry too?" Ms. Uma Challa asked.

Reducing punishment

The All India Forgotten Women's Association representative also opposed the proposed reduction of punishment for dowry givers, and said no dowry giver has been punished since the enactment in 1961.

Men cautioned

All the three organisations issued a word of caution to men intending to get married, and urged them to insist on prenuptial agreements in order to protect themselves from false cases, in view of the proposed amendments awaiting approval of the Cabinet.