Uttar Pradesh government directs all the Married Public Servants will have to declare that they have received no dowry when they were married.
All government servants married after April 31, 2004, will have to email affidavits to that effect by October 18, according to the October 12 circular to all the heads of departments, commissioners, and district magistrates, among others. The authorities have been requested to take action against personnel who do not comply. And this is the first time when the anti-dowry laws are enforced in the state in a serious manner by directing the married public servant to submit the no dowry affidavit and they are mandated to furnish a verified statement at the time of joining work, stating that they will not receive dowry when they get married, according to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
The department of women’s welfare will have to submit a report on compliance on the no-dowry statements and on action taken for non-compliance to a Parliament legislative committee that is likely to visit the state soon, people aware of the matter said on condition of anonymity.
Uttar Pradesh framed the Dowry Prohibition Rules in 1999 as a follow-up to federal law. The rules were amended on March 31, 2004, specifically providing in Rule 5 that every government servant will, during his appointment, furnish a self-attested affidavit to the appointing authority, stating he received no dowry in his marriage.
The social evil of dowry is illegal in India. Any violation can be punished with imprisonment up to five years and a fine of ₹15,000 or the value of the dowry given, whichever is higher.