Soon,couples to declare list of wedding gifts

The list of gifts worth Rs 5,000 has to be notarised in the form of a sworn affidavit to be signed by a protection officer or a dowry prohibition officer and kept by both the parties.

Once cleared by the Cabinet,the Bill will be introduced in the Budget session of Parliament,Minister for Women and Child development Krishna Tirath said.

The registration of gifts,according to officials,will help the women get the gifts back if need be. However,failure to do this can attract a heavy penalty including a three-year term in jail for not only the bride and groom but their parents as well.

The amendments also include having a lesser penalty for dowry givers and allowing a woman to file a case in the place where she permanently or temporarily resides.

The definition of dowry is also being widened by changing the word “in connection with marriage” to “given before the marriage,at the time and at any time after the marriage”.