Observing that anti-dowry laws were being misused by women, the Delhi High Court has recommended the authorities to take a fresh look at the legal provisions.

"It seems that the anti-dowry laws are being increasingly misused. The ground realities persuaded this court to recommend the authorities to have a look at the situation and legal provisions," said Justice Aruna Suresh while giving bail to a man accused of harassing his wife for dowry, allegedly leading to her death in January 2008.
Directing Yogesh Sharma (name changed) to furnish a bail bond of Rs 40,000 and a surety of same amount in the trial court, Justice Suresh said in the bail order that the court did not find any incriminating evidence against him in connection with the death of his wife.

The court accepted Sharma's submission that neither he nor his parents should be blamed for the death of his wife, Neetu (name changed), as he, along with his wife and son, was staying in a separate dwelling, away from his parents' house.

According to him, they were married since 2003 and staying in Aman Vihar in northwest Delhi, however, his parents and other family members were staying in Rohini.

Sharma claimed that the allegation of dowry harassment leading to Neetu's death is baseless.

As per his submissions, in January 2008, Neetu fell unconscious while watching television and he took her to Sanjay Gandhi hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Sharma claimed that the exact cause of her death was not confirmed in the post-mortem report. However, the report said that she died due to seizure.

Sharma contended that Neetu's parents had lodged an FIR against him and his family members alleging dowry harassment leading to her death.

Sources: TOI, NDTV, Hindustan Times