Numerous articles refer to the arrest and sentencing of husbands and in-laws for the crime of "dowry death" in Punjab, India (The Tribune 21 Sept. 2002; ibid. 12 Aug. 2002; ibid. 4 Aug. 2002; ibid. 16 June 2002; ibid. 15 June 2002; ibid. 25 Nov. 2001; ibid. 16 Oct. 2001; ibid. 21 May 2001; ibid. 7 May 2001a; ibid. 7 May 2001b; ibid. 24 Feb. 2001; ibid. 25 Dec. 2000; ibid. 6 Dec. 2000). In the majority of cases, those accused of the crime were charged under Sections 34, 304-B and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (ibid. 7 May 2001a; ibid. 7 May 2001b; ibid. 6 Dec. 2000).

For example, a husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law were reported to have received 10 years "rigorous imprisonment" and a fine of 11,000 rupees ($CDN 347.71 [Bank of Canada 21 Feb. 2003a]) each in a dowry death case (The Tribune 21 Sept. 2002). In another case, five persons, including the husband and mother-in-law, were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 rupees ($CDN 138.05 [Bank of Canada 21 Feb. 2003b]) (The Tribune 16 June 2002).

A February 2001 article reported that a husband and father-in-law had been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 rupees for the murder of Meenakshi Kant, who they had killed for not bringing an adequate dowry to the marriage (The Tribune 24 Feb. 2001). She was apparently burnt alive (ibid.).

In still another case, a December 2000 article reported that the husband and father-in-law of a dowry death victim had received seven years' "rigorous imprisonment" for the murder (The Tribune 25 Dec. 2000). Reportedly, before her death, the victim's husband and father-in-law had been "torturing and maltreating" her, demanding that she bring money from her parents (ibid.).

Several articles also referred to husbands and in-laws being charged with dowry harassment in Punjab that did not result in the death of the woman (The Tribune 14 Nov. 2002; ibid. 4 Aug. 2002; ibid. 11 Feb. 2001; ibid. 19 Oct. 2000). The majority of the charges were laid under Sections 498-A and 506 of the IPC (ibid.).

For example, an August 2002 article reported that a husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law and sister-in-law had been sentenced under Sections 498-A, 506 and 34 of the IPC to three years in prison and a fine of 5,000 rupees for demanding dowry (ibid. 4 Aug. 2002).

Further, a February 2001 article reported that a wife and her farther were reported to have lodged a complaint against the wife's in-laws and husband (ibid. 11 Feb. 2001). In the case, a total of eight people were charged with torturing the victim "for bringing lesser dowry" (ibid.).

In an earlier, similar instance, police were reported to have registered a case against the husband and four in-laws of Inderdeep Kaur for "demanding more dowry" (ibid. 19 Oct. 2000). The wife, who laid the claim, alleged that her husband and his family began "harassing" her to bring more dowry soon after her marriage (ibid.).

For the full text of the relevant sections of the IPC, please consult the attached subsection excerpted from the Indian Penal Code.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Bank of Canada. 21 February 2003a. "Currency Converter." http://www.bank-banque-canada.ca/en/exchform.htm [Accessed 24 Feb. 2003]

_____. 21 February 2003b. "Currency Converter." http://www.bank-banque-canada.ca/en/exchform.htm [Accessed 24 Feb. 2003]

The Tribune [Chandigarh]. 14 November 2002. "In-Laws 'Beat Up' Woman for Dowry." http://www.trinbuneindia.com/2002/20021114/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 21 September 2002. "3 Get 10-Yr RI in Dowry Death Case." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020921/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 13 August 2003. "10-Yr Jail for 2 in Dowry Death Case." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020813/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 4 August 2002. "Four Jailed for Demanding Dowry." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020804/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 16 June 2002. "Five Get 7-Year Jail in Dowry Death Case." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020616/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 15 June 2002. "Husband Booked in Dowry Death Case." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020615/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 25 November 2001. "Woman Killed for Dowry." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011125/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 16 October 2001. "2 Booked Under Dowry Act." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011016/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 21 May 2001. "Man, Father Held for Killing Wife." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010521/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 7 May 2001a. "Woman Killed for Dowry." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010507/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 7 May 2001b. "Dowry Death: Four Booked." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010507/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 24 February 2001. "2 Sentenced for Dowry Death." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010224/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 11 February 2001. "Eight Booked in Dowry Case." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010211/punjab1.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 25 December 2000. "Dowry Death: Two Get 7-Year RI." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001225/punjab.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 6 December 2000. "2 Women Poisoned, In-Laws Booked." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001206/punjab.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

_____. 19 October 2000. "Dowry Case Registered." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001019/punjab.htm [Accessed 18 Feb. 2003]

IRB databases

Internet sites, including:

BBC

Dawn

The European Country of Origin Information Network

The Hindu

The Indian Express

The Punjab Globe

Punjabi Network

Punjab News

Rediff

The Times of India

The Tribune

World News Connection

Search engine:

Google

Ranchhoddas, Ratanlal and Dhirajlal Keshavlal Thakore. 1992. The Indian Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860). 27th Edition. Revised and revitalized by M. Hidayatullah with V. R. Manohar and Avtar Singh. Nagpur: Wadhwa and Company Law Publishers.