Commentaries on Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 by B P Beri (old Edition)

It is necessary to awaken a slumbering society, which has become insensitive to the crimes that stem from abysmal avarice. If this book stirs social conscience or helps to implement legal provisions, we shall deem the effort well recognised.

Justice B.P. Beri

Justice Beri has analysed the provisions of the Act threadbare and given his studied opinion and suggestions, wherever necessary. In one compact volume, a wealth of case-law, the important amending Acts, allied statutes and other useful material is provided. State amendments are also given.

The 'Law of Streedhan' has assumed immense importance in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in Pratibha Rani v. Suraj Kumar. The Tagore Law Lectures by Sir Guroodas Bannerjee on the subject is an excellent rendition of this law and has been reproduced verbatim in this work. To facilitate citation, the page numbers of the original text have been retained.

• Lex Et Juris : Beri researches, probes into, analyses, questions and rationalises in detail, every aspect of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, its State Amendments and its later-day amendments in 1984 and 1986. This should be a very good book for people working in the field of matrimonial law, for social workers and feminist activists.
  
• The Hindu : The historical background is instructive, learned, factual and is a 'must' for students of law and social science. The Act, with all the sections, meaningful commentary punctuated by case-law, State Amendments and even samples of complaints and plaints are given. But a valuable addition, which is a happy bonus, is a classic study of 'Stridhan' extracted from the Tagore Law Lectures by Sir Guroodass Banerjee. Beri has enriched legal literature by his work on a poignant subject.
• All India Reporter : The arrangement of the book is very convenient and the author has collected the material for this from various sources. Topics have been discussed in a very precise way and easy to understand language. The object behind writing this book is to invoke the implementation of Dowry Prohibition Act and to stir social conscience against giving and taking of dowry. This book is full of thought provoking views and ideas and studying it to its depth is a great pleasure. The author in this book has discussed the burning topic of dowry prohibition through deeply engaging and penetrating presentation of his ideas and views. This will help provide everybody with fresh ideas and will kindle the mind for further pursuit of the subject. It would be a best guide for young boys and girls as well as their parents and it's a must for every library.
  
• Kerala Law Times : The book is of broader scope than the title indicates. In sum, it is a timely and enlightening publication enriched with luminous ideas and constructive criticism.

                   Preamble 29
                   Short title, extent and commencement 42
                   Definition of ''dowry'' 43
                   Penalty for giving or taking dowry 52
                   STATE AMENDMENTS
                       Bihar 54
                       Haryana 54
                       Himachal Pradesh 55
                       Punjab 55
                       West Bengal 55
                   Penalty for demanding dowry 70
                   STATE AMENDMENTS 
                       Bihar 72
                       Haryana 72
                       Himachal Pradesh 74
                       Punjab 76
                       West Bengal 77
                   Ban on advertisement 79
                   Agreement for giving or taking dowry to be void 85
                   Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or her heirs 87
                   STATE AMENDMENTS
                       Haryana 92
                       Orissa 102
                       Orissa 103
                   Cognizance of offences 104
                   STATE AMENDMENTS
                       Bihar 105
                       Haryana 106
                       Himachal Pradesh 106
                       Punjab 107
                       West Bengal 108
                   Offences to be cognizable for certain purposes and to be [non-bailable]
                   and non-Compoundable 110
                   STATE AMENDMENTS
                       Bihar 111
                       Himachal Pradesh 111
                       Orissa 112
                       Punjab 112
                   Burden of proof in certain cases 119
                   STATE AMENDMENTS
                       Himachal Pradesh 120
                       Punjab 121
                   Dowry Prohibition Officers 121
                   Power to make rules 122
                   STATE AMENDMENTS
                       Himachal Pradesh 123
                       Punjab 124
                   Power of the State Government to make rules 125

                   The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 127
                   The Dowry Prohibition (Maintenance of Lists of Presents to the Bride
                   and Bridegroom) Rules, 1985 136
                   The Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 1986 138
                   The Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act, 1983 144
                   Excerpts from Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 148
                   Penal Code, 1860 155
                   Evidence Act, 1872 165
                   Precedents 169

                   Lecture VII-What constitutes stridhana 289
                   Lecture VIII-Rights of a woman over her stridhana 336
                   Lecture IX-Succession to stridhana according to the Benares School 364
                   Lecture X-Succession to stridhana according to the Maharashtra,
                   Dravida and Mithila Schools 394
                   Lecture XI-Succession to stridhana according to the Bengal School 429
                   Lecture XII-Succession to women's property other than her stridhana 458
                   SUBJECT INDEX 474