Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) Act, 1976

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THE DOWRY AND BRIDAL GIFTS (RESTRICTION) ACT, 1976 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Restriction on dowry, presents and bridal gifts 
4. Restriction on presents 
5. Vesting of dowry etc., in the bride 
6. Expenditure on marriage 
7.  Display of Dowry etc. 
8.  Declaration regarding expenditure to be submitted to Registrar 
8A. Complaints against violation of the Act 
9. Penalty and procedure 
10. Power to make rules 
11.  [Repeal] 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
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THE DOWRY AND BRIDAL GIFTS (RESTRICTION) ACT, 1976 
1ACT No. XLIII OF 1976 
 
[4th June, 1976] 
 
An Act to provide for restrictions on dowry and bridal gifts. 
 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for restrictions on dowry and bridal gifts and for 
matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto; 
 
It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Dowry and 
Bridal Gifts (Restriction) Act, 1976. 
 
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan and applies to all citizens of Pakistan.  
 
(3) It shall come into force at once.   
2. Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, 
 
(a) “bridal gift” means any property given as a gift before, at or after the marriage, 
either directly or indirectly, by the bridegroom or his parents to the bride in 
connection with the marriage but does not include Mehr; 
(b) “dowry” means any property given before, at or after the marriage, either 
directly or  indirectly, to the bride by h er parents in connection with the 
marriage but it does not include property which the bride may inherit under 
the laws of inheritance and succession applicable to her; 
(c) “marriage” includes betrothal, nikah and rukhsati; 
(d) “parents” includes the guardian of a party to a marriage and any person who 
provides for dowry or bridal gifts and, in the case of a party to a marriage who 
has no parent, or whose marriage is solemnized in circumstances in which, or 
at a place at which, no parent is present, such party; 
(e) “present” means a gift of any property not being a bridal gift or dowry, given 
before, at or after the marriage, either directly or indirectly, to either party to a 
marriage in  connection with the m arriage or to  the relatives of the b ride or 
bridegroom but does not include neundra and salami; 
(f) “property” means property, both moveable and immoveable, and includes 
any v aluable security as defined in the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 
1860); and 
 1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gaz., of P., 1976. Ext., Pt. 111. p. 460 
 
 
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  (g) “Registrar” means a Nikah Registrar licensed under the Muslim Family Laws 
   Ordinance, 1961(VIII of 1961.) and such other person as may be designated 
   from time to time to perform the functions of the Registrar. 
 
 3. Restriction on dowry, presents and bridal gifts.—(1) Neither the aggregate value of the 
dowry and presents given to the bride by Her parents nor the aggregate value of the bridal gifts or 
of the presents given to the bridegroom shall exceed five thousand rupees: 
 
Explanation.—The ceiling of five thousand rupees specified in this sub-section does not in 
any way imply that the dowry, bridal gifts and presents of a lesser amount may not be given. 
 
1[(lA) No person shall give or accept, or enter into an agreement to give or to accept dowry, 
bridal gifts or presents of a value exceeding the aggregate value specified in sub- section (1).] 
 
2[(2) No dowry, bridal gifts or presents may be given before six months or after one month 
of nikah and, if rukhsati takes place some time after nikah after one month of such rukhsati]. 
 
4. Restriction on presents. No person shall give to either party to the marriage any present 
the value of which exceeds one hundred rupees: 
 
Provided that the limit of one hundred shall not applv to the presents give to the bridegroom 
by the parents of the bride under sub-section (1) of section 3: 
  
Provided further th at the President, the Prime Minister, Federal Minister, Chief Minist er, 
Minister of State, Adviser, Governor, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, the Chairman or the  Deputy 
Chairman of the Senate, Parliamentary Secretary, Member of the Senate, National Ass embly or  
Provincial Assembly, Government servant or an official serving in any corporation industry or 
establishment owned, controlled or managed by Government shall not receive any present in 
connection with his marriage or the marriage of his son or daughter except from his relations 
(khandan): 
 
Provided  further  th at  this  restriction  shall  not apply to  a  Government  servant  or 
official serving in the scale below National Pay Scale 17 not exercising in any manner 
judicial revenue or executive authority. 
  
5. Vesting of dowry etc., in the bride. All property given as dowry or bridal gifts and all 
property given to the bride as a present shall vest absolutely in the bride and her interest in property 
however derived shall hereafter not be restrictive, conditional or limited. 
 
6. Expenditure on marriage. The total expenditure on a marriage, excluding the value 
of dowry, bridal gifts and presents, but including the  expenses on menhdi, barat and valima, 
incurred by or on behalf of either party to the marriage shall not exceed two thousand and five 
hundred rupees. 
 
7. [Display of Dowry etc.] Omitted by the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) 
Ordinance, 1980 (XXXVI of 1980), s. 3. 
 
 1 Ins. by the Dowry and Bridal (lifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1980 (36 of 1980), s. 2”. 
 2 Subs. ibid.
 
 
 
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1[8. Declaration regarding expenditure to be submitted to Registrar.—(1) The father of 
the bridegroom or any oth er person who arranges the marriage shall, within fifteen d ays of the 
expiry of  the period fixed under sub-section (2) of section 3 for giving dowry, b ridal gifts and 
presents, submit a declaration to the Registrar solemnly affirming that the total expenditure oh 
the marriage including dowry, bridal gifts, presents and-entertainments did not exceed the limits laid 
down in this Act. 
 
 (2) The Registrar shall forward the declaration submitted under sub-section (1) to the 
Deputy Commissioner within fifteen days of receipt of such declaration. 
   
8A. Complaints against violation of the Act. If any person attending a marriage ceremony 
is satisfied that the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder have been contravened in 
respect of such ceremony, he may submit a complaint, giving full particulars of the contravention, 
to the Deputy Commissioner]. 
 
9. Penalty and procedure.—(1) Whoever contravenes, or fails to comply with,  any 
provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder shall be punishable with imprisonment of either 
description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine 2[which shall not be less than 
the amount proved to h ave been spent in excess of the maximum limits laid down in  this Act], or 
with both, and the dowry, bridal gifts or presents given or accepted in contravention of the  
provisions of this Act shall be forfeited to the Federal Government to be utilized for the marriage 
of poor girls in such a way as may be prescribed by rules made under this Act: 
 
))) 
Provided that if both the parents of a party to the marriage contravene, or fail to 
comply with, any provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder, action under this section shall 
be taken only against the father: 
  
Provided further that if the parent who contravenes, or fails to comply with, any provision of 
this Act or the rules made thereunder is a female, shall be punishable with fine only.   
(2) Any offence punishable under this Act shall be triable only by a Family Cou rt 
established under the West Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964(W.P. Act No. XXXV of 1964). 
  
(3) No Family Court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act except 
upon a complaint in writing made by, or under the authority of, the Deputy Commissioner within 
3[three] months from the date of nikah, and if rukhsati takes place some time after nikah, from the 
date of such rukhsati. 
    
(4) While trying an offence punishable under this Act, a Family Court shall follow the 
procedure prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), for the trial of 
offences by Magistrates. 
 
 
4[10. Power to make rules. The Federal Government, in respect of the Islamabad Capital 
Territory, and a Provincial Government, in Tespect of the Province, may, by noti fication in the  
official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act]. 
 
11. [Repeal]. Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 
1981 (XXVII of 1981), s. 3 and Sen., II. 
 
 1 Subs. by the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1980 (36 of 1980), s. 4. 
 2 Subs. ibid., s.5. 
 3 Subs. by the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1980 (36 of 1980), s. 5. 
 4 Subs. ibid., s. 6.