Penalty for giving or taking dowry

In force Act 28 of 1961 As on 20 Oct 2026

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so the text below was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Act 28 of 1961 Cited by 2 provisions

This is a second copy of a Central Act. India Code files it on Madhya Pradesh's shelf as well as under Parliament, and the text is the same enactment. Read it at The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, which is the record this site keeps current.

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so this text was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Section 3 of Dowry Prohibition, act deals with penalty for giving or taking dowry. ] If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable [with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than "[five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of

5[(1)] If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable [with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than "[five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry, whichever is more]:
Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than [ five years].] 9[(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to, or in relation to,- (a) presents which are given at the time of a marriage to the bride (without any demand having been made in that behalf):
Provided that such presents are entered in a list maintained in accordance with the rules made under this Act;
(b) presents which are given at the time of a marriage to the bridegroom (without any demand having been made in that behalf):
Provided that such presents are entered in a list maintained in accordance with the rules made under this Act: 1. 1st July, 1961, vide notification No. S.O. 1410, dated 20th June, 1961, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii). 2. Subs. by Act 43 of 1986, s. 2, for "or after the marriage" (w.e.f. 19-11-1986).
Section 3, Dowry Prohibition, act (Act 28 of 1961).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Referred to by 2

Questions about Section 3

What does Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition, act deal with?

Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition, act is headed "Penalty for giving or taking dowry". ] If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable [with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than "[five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of

How do I find court cases under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition, act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Dowry Prohibition Act 3, section 3 Dowry Prohibition Act, section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition, act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition, act, and has it changed?

2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.

When was the Dowry Prohibition, act enacted?

Dowry Prohibition, act was enacted in 1961 as Act 28 of 1961. India Code records no commencement date for it. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

9. Power to make rules1565 words
2. Definition of "dowry"122 words
1. Short title, extent and commencement47 words

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Read from the Government's own scanned gazette with Azure Document Intelligence, then split into sections by their numbering. India Code publishes no text for this Act. The scan itself is mirrored into our own storage and served at /scan/91a43166-a5ff-4263-9331-3db3073ca52a.pdf, so the reading here can be checked against the page it came from without depending on India Code's own copy staying where it is (it was at https://indiacode.gov.in/server/api/core/bitstreams/06fc778d-fb35-45ab-9f30-bdb2a4d8c018/content). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.