The Jammu and Kashmir Dowry Restraint Act, 1960

(I) This Act may be called the Dowry Restraint Act, 1960. (2) It extends to the whole of the Jammu and Kashmir State. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Governmcnt may by notification in the Government Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- "Dowry" means any property transferred or agreed to be transferred as a part of the contract of any betrothal, marriage, any pre-betrohal, post-marriage ceremony such as Thaka, Rophera, Duphera, Thirsal, Phersozen and the like by one party to the betrothal, marriage, any prebetrothal, post-marriage ceremony such as Thaka, Rophera, Duphera, Phirsal, Phersoze~r and the like or the father, mother, or guardian of that party to the other party to the marriage or to the father, mother or guardian if the other party, but does not include voluntary marriage gifts such as ornaments to a bride and dress, bridegroom the value of which in aggregate does not exceed two thousand rupees.

Any person who takes dowry s'iall bc punishable with simple imprisonment which may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to the amount or value of the dowry taken.

Any person who gives dowry or abets the giving of dowry shall be punishable with simple imprisonment which may extend to one year and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees.

A person who at any time within three years after the solemnisation of a marriage, demands, either directly or indirectly, from the parents or any other person who was the guardian of the woman before her marriage any payment which is in the nature of a dowry, shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 3 of this Act and shall be punishable accordingly.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, Svt. 1989,--(a) no Court inferior to that of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act ;(b) no Court shall take cognizance of any such offence except on a complaint made within one year from the date of the offence ;(c) it shall be lawful for a Judicial Magistrate of the first class to pass any sentence authorised by this Act on any person convicted of any offence under this Act.(d) offences under this Act shall be triable summarily.

Every offence under this Act shall be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable :

Provided that no police officer below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police shall make arrest for or investigate any offence under this Act.

The Government may, by notification in the Government Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.