Dowry death.— (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 purpose 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.
The ingredients necessary for the application of Dowry Death:
(a) When the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury, or
(b) occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances
(c) and the aforesaid two facts happen within 7 years of girl’s marriage
(d) and soon before her death, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or his relative,
(e) this is in connection with the demand of dowry.
If these conditions exist, it would constitute a dowry death; and the husband and/or his relatives shall be deemed to have caused her death.