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Govt jobs only after dowry details: SC
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, May 3
With a view to curbing the menace of dowry, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre and states to consider making it a rule for every employee to furnish information at the time of his recruitment whether he had taken dowry, if he was married when applying for the job.

This declaration would be on the lines of furnishing the mandatory details about any prosecution ever faced by a person wishing to seek government employment.

“We direct the Union of India and the state governments to consider whether appropriate rules can be framed for compelling males, seeking government employment, to furnish information on whether they had taken dowry and if taken, whether the same has been made over to the wife as contemplated by Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961,” a Bench of Chief Justice, Mr R.C. Lahoti, Mr Justice G.P. Mathur and Mr Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan said.

The court further said that the government could strengthen the rules under the Act further which required “calling for such information also from those already in employment” stating that it was necessary to “arouse the conscience” of people against the demand and acceptance of the dowry.

The direction came on public interest litigation filed by various organisations and individuals, seeking enforcement of the law strictly.