Dowry-related violence instead of decreasing is on the rise, reads the full text of a verdict issued by a special bench of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi and Justices Girish Chandra Lal and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki in August. [break]The apex court has stated the government has delayed enforcement of dowry-related Act and has not implemented concerned laws in order to address the problem.
The apex court has stressed the need for collecting data on women who are victims of dowry-related violence, providing them necessary support and creating social awareness in collaboration with national and local media.
Stating that the dowry system is a serious social anomaly, SC has maintained that the problem cannot be addressed through the initiatives taken at the state level alone. The apex court has asked the civil society to stand against the dowry system.
However, SC has refused to scrap the existing Act related to dowry stating that it does not encourage the dowry system. “There are no grounds to take the Act in a negative light as brides were given dowry by their parents in then traditional Nepali society,” reads the full text of the verdict.
According to the exiting act related to dowry, one can give up to Rs 10,000 as dowry.
The writ petitioners had urged the apex court to scrap the existing Act related to dowry arguing that it has been encouraging the dowry system.
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