Report No. 91

Dowry Deaths and Law Reform: Amending The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Contents
Chapter 1	Introductory
1.1	Dowry deaths
2.	Need for law reform
3.	The approach to be adopted
4.	Law of Evidence
5.	Substantive criminal law
6.	Importance of a consideration of the subject
7.	Paramount need for preventive measures
8.	Difficulty of detection
9.	Suggestions for reform
Chapter 2	The Factual Components of Dowry Deaths, and Their Impact on The Law of Evidence
2.1.	Factual components
2.	Comments on the first and three factual component
3.	The fourth factual component
4.	Recommendation to amend the Evidence Act
5.	Utility
6.	The fifth factual component
7.	Recommendation for another amendment in the Evidence Act
8.	Sixth factor-nature of the act
9.	Seventh factual component-locale
10.	Eighth factual component-reporting
Chapter 3	Dowry Deaths and The Substantive Criminal Law
3.1.	The eighth factor-reporting
2.	Recommendation as to obligation to report
3.	Recommendation to amend the Indian Penal Code to punish persistent cruelty driving a person to suicide
Chapter 4	Dowry and The Law of Divorce
4.1.	Amending the law of divorce
2.	Varieties of factual situations
3.	Stability of marriage weighed against problem of life
4.	Factors to be taken into account
5.	Recommendation for amending the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955-provisions relating to "cruelty"
6.	Other matrimonial enactments whether to be amended
7.	Present law if adequate
8.	Recommendation regarding definition of dowry for the purpose the present recommendations
9.	Recommendation-definition of "dowry"
Chapter 5	Conclusion, and Summary of Recommendations
5.1.	Conclusion
2.	Summary of recommendations