I. The Provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961: Realizing the menace of dowry, the Government of India passed the Dowry Prohibition Act in the year 1961. The Act had defined dowry as 'property given in consideration of marriage and as a condition of the marriage taking place.' Both giving and receiving dowry were considered offences under the Act, but it was a non-cognizable (an offence, which cannot be punished under the provisions of the law) and bailable (an offence for, which a suspect can be given bail) offence, which carried a maximum punishment of six months and/or a fine of Rupees five thousand.

II. Amendments of 1984 and 1986: As a consequence of further pressure mounted by the women's movement the Dowry Prohibition Act was amended in 1984, and the words' as consideration of marriage' were replaced by the words 'in connection with marriage'. The punishment was increased to a minimum period of five years and a fine of up to Rupees ten thousand, or the value of the dowry, whichever was more. The one-year limitation, which was imposed by the 1961 Act for filing a complaint, was removed and it was now made possible for the girl's parents, relatives or a social work institution to file a complaint on her behalf. Another clause in the Act of 1961 that prior sanction of the government was necessary for prosecuting a husband, who had demanded dowry was also dropped by the 1984 Amendment.

The Act was again amended in 1986. The amendment which was aimed at making the Act even more stringent increased the penalty to Rupees 15,000 and shifted the burden of proof to the accused. The amendment also made any unnatural death of a woman within seven years of marriage punishable under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code.