New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Taking note of prolonged delays in dowry-related cases across the country, the Supreme Court has issued a series of directions aimed at speeding up trials, including framing of charges within 90 days and recording evidence, as far as possible, on a day-to-day basis.
In an August 20 order, a Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol, who has since retired, and Justice Augustine George Masih laid down measures for the effective implementation of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and expeditious disposal of cases involving dowry deaths and cruelty against married women.
The directions cover cases under Sections 304-B and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), their corresponding provisions under Sections 80 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, as well as offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Dowry Cases Pending For Over Three Years To Be Identified
The Supreme Court directed courts dealing with such offences to treat them as priority matters, as far as practicable, and make efforts to ensure their speedy disposal without affecting other categories of cases.
District judiciaries have been asked to identify cases pending for more than three years, particularly those stuck at the stages of framing charges or recording evidence. Such cases will be subjected to periodic monitoring through monthly or quarterly reviews.
The court also called for better management of witnesses and adjournments, greater use of technology and digital monitoring, specialised prosecution and training and sensitisation of officials.
“Many, who openly seek and give dowry, go scot-free,” the Bench observed, noting that courts have repeatedly highlighted difficulties in implementing the Dowry Prohibition Act.
States, High Courts Asked To Submit Regular Compliance Reports
The Supreme Court directed all High Courts and states and Union Territories to submit status and compliance reports three times every year — on January 15, May 15 and September 15 — until there is a substantial reduction in the pendency of dowry-related cases.
The reports will include data on pending and disposed cases, their stage-wise status, awareness initiatives, information about Dowry Prohibition Officers, training programmes and measures taken to implement the court’s earlier directions.
The matter has been listed for consideration of compliance and periodic reports on October 15, 2026.
SC Calls For Stronger Support System For Women
The court also directed states and Union Territories to ensure effective functioning of Dowry Prohibition Officers and make information about these officials more widely accessible.
It called for strengthening One Stop Centres, Family Counselling Centres, Women Help Desks, victim-assistance mechanisms, helplines and online grievance-redressal systems to make legal remedies and support more accessible to affected women.
States and UTs have further been asked to conduct sustained awareness programmes on gender equality, constitutional values and women’s rights in coordination with education departments, Women and Child Development Departments, State Legal Services Authorities and other bodies.
These efforts should include educational curricula, legal-literacy initiatives, community outreach and public awareness campaigns, the court directed.
