Women and Child Development department has initialised dowry prohibition portal, HC told

The State government informed the Kerala High Court that the Women and Child Development (WCD) department has initialised a dowry prohibition portal where aggrieved persons can directly file their complaints to the court.

In addition, a standard operating procedure to handle cases relating to the Dowry Prohibition Act is being prepared, it said, in an affidavit filed with regard to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ernakulam native Tellmy Jolly, challenging the Constitutional validity of Section 3 of the Act, on the ground that it also penalised the giving of dowry. The penalising of the dowry giver – often the victim or a family member – acts as a deterrent to reporting dowry-related harassment for fear of self incrimination.

The affidavit further says that the government has appointed district-level dowry prohibition officers. The Director of Women and Child Development department will serve as the chief dowry prohibition officer to administer and coordinate dowry prohibition activities. The government is also taking earnest efforts to see that the evil of seeking and giving dowry is prohibited.

The case has been adjourned to September 16, after the counsel for the Union government sought more time to file a counter affidavit.