BNS Section 80 — Dowry death

CHAPTER V OF OFFENCES AGAINST WOMAN AND CHILD — Of offences relating to marriage

Criminal

Summary

Sub-section (1) defines when a death is treated as a dowry death. This applies where a woman dies within seven years of her marriage, and the death is caused by burns or bodily injury, or happens in any way that is not normal. It must also be shown that, shortly before her death, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband, and that this cruelty or harassment was for, or connected with, a demand for dowry. In such a case, the death is called a dowry death, and the husband or relative is legally considered to have caused her death.

The Explanation to sub-section (1) clarifies that the word dowry has the same meaning as given in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

Sub-section (2) sets out the punishment for committing dowry death. The punishment is imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years, but it can extend to imprisonment for life.

Official Text

(1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called “dowry death”, and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “dowry” shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961).

(2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.

Related Provisions

dowry death

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.2 p.80 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.5 p.1054 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

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