Presumption as to dowry death
Full Text
When the question is whether a person has committed the dowry death of a woman and it is shown that soon before her death, such woman had been subjected by such person to cruelty or harassment for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, the Court shall presume that such person had caused the dowry death.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “dowry death” shall have the same meaning as in section 80 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Plain English Summary
If a woman dies under suspicious circumstances and it is shown she was harassed for dowry soon before her death, the court SHALL presume the accused caused the dowry death.
Key Legal Elements
- Question of dowry death of a woman
- Proof of cruelty or harassment soon before death
- Harassment must be in connection with dowry demand
- Court shall presume the accused caused the death
Practical Note
This is a 'Shall Presume' section, making the presumption mandatory for the court once the prerequisite of 'cruelty for dowry soon before death' is proven. It is a powerful tool against dowry-related violence, shifting the burden of proof to the accused.
हिंदी पाठ
दहेज मृत्यु के बारे में उपधारणा — जब प्रश्न यह है कि क्या किसी व्यक्ति ने किसी स्त्री की दहेज मृत्यु कारित की है और यह दर्शित किया जाता है कि उसकी मृत्यु के कुछ समय पूर्व ऐसी स्त्री को ऐसे व्यक्ति द्वारा दहेज की किसी मांग के लिए या उसके संबंध में क्रूरता या उत्पीड़न का विषय बनाया गया था, तब न्यायालय यह उपधारणा करेगा कि ऐसे व्यक्ति ने दहेज मृत्यु कारित की थी।
स्पष्टीकरण — इस धारा के प्रयोजनों के लिए, 'दहेज मृत्यु' का वही अर्थ होगा जो भारतीय न्याय संहिता, 2023 की धारा 80 में है।