The Supreme Court has issued a series of directions to strengthen the implementation of laws dealing with dowry-related offences, including effective functioning of Dowry Prohibition Officers, priority treatment of cases under Sections 304-B and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Sections 80 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and periodic monitoring of long-pending cases. A bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih issued the directions on August 20 while considering compliance with its earlier judgment dated December 15, 2025, in State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ajmal Beg 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1209.
Amongst other directions, a major direction the Court issued is to direct all High Courts and States/Union Territories to file status and compliance reports on January 15, May 15 and September 15 each year until there is a substantial reduction in the pendency of cases under Sections 304-B and 498-A IPC, corresponding provisions of the BNS, and the Dowry Prohibition Act. The reports are to include pendency and disposal statistics, stage-wise status of cases, awareness initiatives, details regarding Dowry Prohibition Officers, training programmes and measures adopted pursuant to the Court's directions.
The Court observed that many who openly seek and give dowry go scot-free, and noted time and again in various judicial pronouncements that the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 suffers from various difficulties in its implementation. It acknowledged that when it comes to the giving and taking of dowry, this practice has deep roots in society, hence it is not a matter of swift change, and a concentrated effort is needed on the part of all involved parties, be it Legislature, Judiciary, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations etc.
To address the systemic delay and ineffective implementation attending prosecutions under Section 304-B and Section 498-A IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, the Court issued the following directions: first, strengthening of institutional support mechanisms—States and Union Territories shall ensure effective functioning and dissemination of information regarding Dowry Prohibition Officers appointed/designated under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and shall strengthen One Stop Centres, Family Counselling Centres, Women Help Desks, victim assistance mechanisms, helplines, and online grievance redressal systems for facilitating access to support and legal remedies for aggrieved women.
Second, awareness and educational measures—States and Union Territories, in coordination with Departments of Education, Women and Child Development Departments, State Legal Services Authorities and other appropriate bodies, shall undertake sustained awareness and sensitisation programmes concerning the social evil of dowry, gender equality, constitutional values, and women's rights, including through educational curricula, awareness campaigns, community outreach programmes and legal literacy initiatives.
Third, priority classification and monitoring of cases—All Courts dealing with offences under Sections 304B and 498A IPC/Sections 80 and 85 BNS, 2023 shall, as far as practicable, treat such matters as priority cases and endeavour to ensure expeditious disposal thereof, without adversely affecting the hearing of other categories of cases. The concerned District Judiciary shall identify cases pending beyond three years, particularly those pending at the stage of framing of charge or recording of evidence, and undertake periodic monitoring thereof through monthly or quarterly review mechanisms.
Fourth, time-bound progression of trial—All Trial Courts shall endeavour, as far as practicable and subject to compliance with statutory safeguards under the CrPC/BNSS, to secure prompt appearance of accused expeditiously after filing of charge-sheet, consider framing of charge preferably within 60 to 90 days from filing of charge-sheet, commence recording of evidence within a reasonable period after framing of charge, and proceed with recording of evidence on a continuous or day-to-day basis in terms of Section 309 CrPC/Section 346 BNSS, 2023. Provided the timelines indicated herein may ordinarily be adhered to as directory benchmarks, subject to exceptional cases involving medical or other genuine grounds for delay.
The Court further directed that the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) shall coordinate with State Legal Services Authorities to ensure effective implementation of legal aid and counselling services in dowry-related cases. It also directed the Ministry of Women and Child Development to undertake a nationwide campaign to sensitise public officials, including police personnel and judicial officers, on the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act and related laws.
The bench emphasized that the directions are issued to ensure that the legislative intent behind the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, is realised in letter and spirit, and that the State machinery is sensitised and activated to prevent dowry demands and provide timely relief to victims. The Court clarified that the directions are without prejudice to the rights of the accused to a fair trial and are aimed solely at removing procedural delays and systemic apathy in the adjudication of dowry-related offences.
The compliance reports are to be filed by the concerned High Courts and States/Union Territories with the Registry of the Supreme Court, and the Court shall monitor the implementation of these directions through periodic review. The directions shall remain in force until further orders.