Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
8-B. Dowry Prohibition Officers. -
(1) The State Government may appoint as many Dowry
Prohibition Officers as it thinks fit and specify the areas in respect of which
they shall exercise their jurisdiction and powers under this Act.
(2) Every Dowry Prohibition Officer shall exercise and perform
the following powers and functions, namely: -
(a) to see that the provisions of this Act are complied with;
(b) to prevent, as far as possible, the taking or
abetting the taking of, or the demanding of, dowry;
(c) to collect such evidence as may be necessary for
the prosecution of persons committing offence under the Act; and
(d) to perform such additional functions as may be
assigned to him by the State Government, or as may be specified in the rules
made under this Act.
(3) The State Government may, by notification in the official
Gazette confer such powers of a police officer as may be specified in the
notification, on the Dowry Prohibition Officer who shall exercise such powers
subject to such limitation and conditions as may be specified by rules made under
this Act.
(4) The State Government may, for the purpose of advising and
assisting the Dowry Prohibition Officer in the efficient performance of their
functions under this Act, appoint an advisory board consisting of not more than
five social welfare workers (out of whom at least two shall be women) from the
area in respect of which such Dowry Prohibition Officer exercises jurisdiction
under-sub-section (1).