DOWRY DEATH AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE & DIGNITY: EXAMINING CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS UNDER ARTICLE 21

Abstract

Dowry death nowadays has become a very persistent problem in the Indian Marriage institution. Dowry a ritual which is so deeply rooted in the society which originally began as a safeguard for women’s financial security in male dominated societies where daughters were excluded from inheriting ancestral property have now become graveyard for the women in the society. Subjecting a woman to such harassment leading to her loss of life driven by physical violence leading to suicide due to coercive financial demand ultimately curtailing Article 21. This paper examines the meaning, cause, and propelling factors behind such dowry death. It analyses the constitutional safeguard in form of Fundamental rights, Directive principles of state policy and fundamental duties under Article 14,15 and 21 in the constitution of India and reviews the existing legal framework where dowry deaths are prosecuted under Bhartiya Nyaya Sahinta,2023 through the study of landmark Supreme Court judgments and recent case studies, the paper highlights the role of the judiciary in protecting individual autonomy and condemning dowry based violence. It further emphasizes the urgent need for stricter implication of legislation and broader social reform to ensure that constitutional morality prevails over regressive cultural practices.