REGISTERED No. D. 221
The Gazette 
of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 1
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 32] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, MAY 21, 1961/JYAISTHA 1, 1883
MINISTRY OF LAW
(Legislative Department)
New Delhi, the 22 nd May, 1961/Jyaistha 1, 1883 (Saka)
The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 20th May, 1961, and is hereby published for general information:-
THE DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, 1961
No. 28 of 1961
An Act to prohibit the giving or taking of dowry.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twelfth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
Short title, extent and commencement. 1. (1) This Act may be called the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
Definition of "dowry". 2. In this Act, "dowry" means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly-
- (a) by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or
- (b) by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person;
(257)
