RAMA SHANKAR Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The aforesaid passage narrated by a two judge bench in State of HP v. Nikku Ram and Ors., 1995 6 SCC 219 reflects the degree of anguish of Hon'ble Supreme Court in regard to the unfortunate tradition of demand of dowry from the girl's parents and the treatment meted out to the women in this country despite the same being a criminal offence.

(2.) Marriages are made in heaven, is an adage. A bride leaves the parental home to go to the matrimonial home, leaving behind sweet memories there, with a hope that she will see a new world full of love in her groom's house. She leaves behind not only her memories, but also her surname, gotra and maidenhood. She expects not only to be a daughter-in-law, but a daughter in fact. Alas! The alarming rise in the number of cases involving harassment to the newly wed girls for dowry shatters the dreams. In-laws are characterized to be out-laws for perpetrating terrorism which destroys the matrimonial home. The terrorist is dowry, and it is spreading tentacles in every possible direction. Present is another case of unnatural death of a young lady within one and a half year of her gonna.

(3.) Rama Shankar (A1) is the husband of deceased Maya while Bhagwat Prashad (A2) and Prem Patta (A3) are her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Although the marriage of Rama Shankar A1 with deceased Maya had taken place on 15th May, 1989, gonna in fact had taken place only in the month of February, 1996 and it was only thereafter that the deceased started residing with her husband and in-laws in the matrimonial home. Hardly 11/2 year had elapsed, when demon of dowry devoured the life of Maya who must have married with high hopes of having heavenly abode in her husband's house.