Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
6. Dowry To Be For The Benefit Of The Wife Or Her Heirs.-
(1) Where any dowry is received by any person other than the
woman in connection with whose marriage it is given, that person shall transfer
it to the woman-
(a) if the dowry was received before marriage, within
three months after the date of marriage; or
(b) if the dowry was received at the time of or after the
marriage within three months after the date of its receipt; or
(c) if the dowry was received when the woman was a minor, within
three months after she has attained the age of eighteen years.
and pending such transfer, shall hold it in trust for the
benefit of the woman.
(2) If any person fails to transfer any property as required by
sub-section (1) within the time limit specified therefor or as required by
sub-section (3), he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to two years or with
fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees, but which may extend to
ten thousand rupees or with both.
(3) Where the woman entitled to any property under sub-section
(1) dies before receiving it, the heirs of the woman shall be entitled to claim
it from the person holding it for the time being:
Provided that where such woman dies within seven years of her
marriage, otherwise than due to natural causes, such property shall,-
(a) if she has no children, be transferred to her parents, or
(b) if she had children, be transferred to such children and
pending such transfer, be held in trust for such children.
(3-A) Where a person convicted under sub-section (2) for failure
to transfer any property as required by sub-section (1) tor sub-section (3)]
has not, before his conviction under that sub-section, transferred such
property to the woman entitled thereto or, as the case may be, her heirs,
parents or children, the Court shall, in addition to awarding punishment under
that sub-section, direct, by order in writing, that such person shall transfer
the property to such woman or, as the case may be, her heirs, parents or
children within such period as may be specified in the order, andif such person
fails to comply with the direction within the period so specified, an amount
equal to the value of the property may be recovered from him as if it were a
fine imposed by such Court and paid to such woman or, as the case may be, her
heirs, parents or children.
(4) Nothing contained in this section shall affect provisions of
Sec. 3 or Sec. 4.