SECTION 304 B

SECTION 304 B

Subject : Polity

Context : The Supreme Court observed that the phrase “soon before” as appearing in Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code cannot be construed to mean ‘immediately before’.

Concept :

• Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code states that if a woman dies within seven years of marriage by any burns or bodily injury or it was revealed that before her marriage she was exposed to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any other relative of the husband in connection to demand dowry then the death of the woman will be considered as a dowry death.
• Punishment for dowry death is a minimum sentence of imprisonment for seven years or a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life.

Essential Ingredients

• Death should be caused by burns or bodily injury or by any other circumstances.
• Death must occur within the seven years of marriage.
• It must be revealed that soon before her marriage she was exposed to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any other relative.
• The cruelty or harassment on her should be in connection with the demand for dowry.