In an effort to discourage acceptance of dowry, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and the States to consider whether appropriate rules can be framed for compelling government job seekers to furnish information on whether they had taken dowry.
"And if taken, whether the same has been handed over to the wife as contemplated by Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, calling for such information and from those already in employment," a Bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti, Justice G P Mathur and Justice P K Balasubramanyan said.
If the governments accept the proposal of the apex court, then a candidate aspiring to become a government employee and all government servants would have to provide information about the dowry.
The bench observed that even though the Act was established 43 years ago, the authorities had failed to implement it effectively.
The bench asked the Centre and states to take more effective steps to steps to implement the provisions of the Act with particular reference to sections 3 and 4 -- provides maintenance of lists of presents or gifts to the bride and bridegroom -- framed thereunder.