Question

Under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, within how many months from the date of marriage must dowry received before marriage be transferred to the woman?

• A. Within six months
• B. Within three months
• C. Within five months
• D. Within seven months

Hint:

Remember the "Rule of Three": Under the Dowry Prohibition Act, the transfer deadline is always "three months" from the event (marriage or receipt)!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, ensures that dowry (defined as property received in connection with marriage) is ultimately held for the benefit of the woman.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Section 6(1) states that where any dowry is received by any person other than the woman in connection with whose marriage it is given, that person shall transfer it to the woman:
(a) If it was received before marriage, within three months after the date of marriage.
(b) If it was received at the time of or after the marriage, within three months after the date of its receipt.
- This provision protects the woman's rights over the property given as dowry.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The timeframe stipulated by the Act is within three months from the date of marriage for dowry received before the marriage. Option (B) is correct.

Answer 2

Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 fixes a time limit within which dowry received before a marriage must reach the woman herself. The question tests recall of that exact period, and each option can be checked against the statute's wording.

1. Within six months: Six months is not the period Section 6 prescribes for dowry received before marriage. This longer window would leave the property with a third party for too long, working against the provision's aim of quickly vesting the dowry in the woman.
2. Within three months: Section 6(1) states that dowry received by any person other than the woman, before the marriage, must be transferred to her within three months after the date of marriage. This matches the statute exactly.
3. Within five months: Five months does not correspond to any period fixed under Section 6. It has no basis in the text of the Act.
4. Within seven months: Seven months is likewise not a period mentioned anywhere in Section 6. It simply does not appear in the statute and would undermine the provision's intent of prompt transfer.

Only the three-month period matches Section 6(1)'s express language for dowry received before marriage.

Therefore, the correct answer is Within three months.