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  "title": "Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) Act, 1976",
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  "text": "Page 1 of 4 \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nTHE DOWRY AND BRIDAL GIFTS (RESTRICTION) ACT, 1976 \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Restriction on dowry, presents and bridal gifts \r\n4. Restriction on presents \r\n5. Vesting of dowry etc., in the bride \r\n6. Expenditure on marriage \r\n7.  Display of Dowry etc. \r\n8.  Declaration regarding expenditure to be submitted to Registrar \r\n8A. Complaints against violation of the Act \r\n9. Penalty and procedure \r\n10. Power to make rules \r\n11.  [Repeal] \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nPage 2 of 4 \r\n \r\nTHE DOWRY AND BRIDAL GIFTS (RESTRICTION) ACT, 1976 \r\n1ACT No. XLIII OF 1976 \r\n \r\n[4th June, 1976] \r\n \r\nAn Act to provide for restrictions on dowry and bridal gifts. \r\n \r\nWHEREAS it is expedient to provide for restrictions on dowry and bridal gifts and for \r\nmatters connected therewith or ancillary thereto; \r\n \r\nIt is hereby enacted as follows:— \r\n \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Dowry and \r\nBridal Gifts (Restriction) Act, 1976. \r\n \r\n(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan and applies to all citizens of Pakistan.  \r\n \r\n(3) It shall come into force at once.   \r\n2. Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, \r\n \r\n(a) “bridal gift” means any property given as a gift before, at or after the marriage, \r\neither directly or indirectly, by the bridegroom or his parents to the bride in \r\nconnection with the marriage but does not include Mehr; \r\n(b) “dowry” means any property given before, at or after the marriage, either \r\ndirectly or  indirectly, to the bride by h er parents in connection with the \r\nmarriage but it does not include property which the bride may inherit under \r\nthe laws of inheritance and succession applicable to her; \r\n(c) “marriage” includes betrothal, nikah and rukhsati; \r\n(d) “parents” includes the guardian of a party to a marriage and any person who \r\nprovides for dowry or bridal gifts and, in the case of a party to a marriage who \r\nhas no parent, or whose marriage is solemnized in circumstances in which, or \r\nat a place at which, no parent is present, such party; \r\n(e) “present” means a gift of any property not being a bridal gift or dowry, given \r\nbefore, at or after the marriage, either directly or indirectly, to either party to a \r\nmarriage in  connection with the m arriage or to  the relatives of the b ride or \r\nbridegroom but does not include neundra and salami; \r\n(f) “property” means property, both moveable and immoveable, and includes \r\nany v aluable security as defined in the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of \r\n1860); and \r\n 1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gaz., of P., 1976. Ext., Pt. 111. p. 460 \r\n \r\n \r\nPage 3 of 4 \r\n \r\n  (g) “Registrar” means a Nikah Registrar licensed under the Muslim Family Laws \r\n   Ordinance, 1961(VIII of 1961.) and such other person as may be designated \r\n   from time to time to perform the functions of the Registrar. \r\n \r\n 3. Restriction on dowry, presents and bridal gifts.—(1) Neither the aggregate value of the \r\ndowry and presents given to the bride by Her parents nor the aggregate value of the bridal gifts or \r\nof the presents given to the bridegroom shall exceed five thousand rupees: \r\n \r\nExplanation.—The ceiling of five thousand rupees specified in this sub-section does not in \r\nany way imply that the dowry, bridal gifts and presents of a lesser amount may not be given. \r\n \r\n1[(lA) No person shall give or accept, or enter into an agreement to give or to accept dowry, \r\nbridal gifts or presents of a value exceeding the aggregate value specified in sub- section (1).] \r\n \r\n2[(2) No dowry, bridal gifts or presents may be given before six months or after one month \r\nof nikah and, if rukhsati takes place some time after nikah after one month of such rukhsati]. \r\n \r\n4. Restriction on presents. No person shall give to either party to the marriage any present \r\nthe value of which exceeds one hundred rupees: \r\n \r\nProvided that the limit of one hundred shall not applv to the presents give to the bridegroom \r\nby the parents of the bride under sub-section (1) of section 3: \r\n  \r\nProvided further th at the President, the Prime Minister, Federal Minister, Chief Minist er, \r\nMinister of State, Adviser, Governor, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, the Chairman or the  Deputy \r\nChairman of the Senate, Parliamentary Secretary, Member of the Senate, National Ass embly or  \r\nProvincial Assembly, Government servant or an official serving in any corporation industry or \r\nestablishment owned, controlled or managed by Government shall not receive any present in \r\nconnection with his marriage or the marriage of his son or daughter except from his relations \r\n(khandan): \r\n \r\nProvided  further  th at  this  restriction  shall  not apply to  a  Government  servant  or \r\nofficial serving in the scale below National Pay Scale 17 not exercising in any manner \r\njudicial revenue or executive authority. \r\n  \r\n5. Vesting of dowry etc., in the bride. All property given as dowry or bridal gifts and all \r\nproperty given to the bride as a present shall vest absolutely in the bride and her interest in property \r\nhowever derived shall hereafter not be restrictive, conditional or limited. \r\n \r\n6. Expenditure on marriage. The total expenditure on a marriage, excluding the value \r\nof dowry, bridal gifts and presents, but including the  expenses on menhdi, barat and valima, \r\nincurred by or on behalf of either party to the marriage shall not exceed two thousand and five \r\nhundred rupees. \r\n \r\n7. [Display of Dowry etc.] Omitted by the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) \r\nOrdinance, 1980 (XXXVI of 1980), s. 3. \r\n \r\n 1 Ins. by the Dowry and Bridal (lifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1980 (36 of 1980), s. 2”. \r\n 2 Subs. ibid.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nPage 4 of 4 \r\n \r\n1[8. Declaration regarding expenditure to be submitted to Registrar.—(1) The father of \r\nthe bridegroom or any oth er person who arranges the marriage shall, within fifteen d ays of the \r\nexpiry of  the period fixed under sub-section (2) of section 3 for giving dowry, b ridal gifts and \r\npresents, submit a declaration to the Registrar solemnly affirming that the total expenditure oh \r\nthe marriage including dowry, bridal gifts, presents and-entertainments did not exceed the limits laid \r\ndown in this Act. \r\n \r\n (2) The Registrar shall forward the declaration submitted under sub-section (1) to the \r\nDeputy Commissioner within fifteen days of receipt of such declaration. \r\n   \r\n8A. Complaints against violation of the Act. If any person attending a marriage ceremony \r\nis satisfied that the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder have been contravened in \r\nrespect of such ceremony, he may submit a complaint, giving full particulars of the contravention, \r\nto the Deputy Commissioner]. \r\n \r\n9. Penalty and procedure.—(1) Whoever contravenes, or fails to comply with,  any \r\nprovision of this Act or the rules made thereunder shall be punishable with imprisonment of either \r\ndescription for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine 2[which shall not be less than \r\nthe amount proved to h ave been spent in excess of the maximum limits laid down in  this Act], or \r\nwith both, and the dowry, bridal gifts or presents given or accepted in contravention of the  \r\nprovisions of this Act shall be forfeited to the Federal Government to be utilized for the marriage \r\nof poor girls in such a way as may be prescribed by rules made under this Act: \r\n \r\n))) \r\nProvided that if both the parents of a party to the marriage contravene, or fail to \r\ncomply with, any provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder, action under this section shall \r\nbe taken only against the father: \r\n  \r\nProvided further that if the parent who contravenes, or fails to comply with, any provision of \r\nthis Act or the rules made thereunder is a female, shall be punishable with fine only.   \r\n(2) Any offence punishable under this Act shall be triable only by a Family Cou rt \r\nestablished under the West Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964(W.P. Act No. XXXV of 1964). \r\n  \r\n(3) No Family Court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act except \r\nupon a complaint in writing made by, or under the authority of, the Deputy Commissioner within \r\n3[three] months from the date of nikah, and if rukhsati takes place some time after nikah, from the \r\ndate of such rukhsati. \r\n    \r\n(4) While trying an offence punishable under this Act, a Family Court shall follow the \r\nprocedure prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), for the trial of \r\noffences by Magistrates. \r\n \r\n \r\n4[10. Power to make rules. The Federal Government, in respect of the Islamabad Capital \r\nTerritory, and a Provincial Government, in Tespect of the Province, may, by noti fication in the  \r\nofficial Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act]. \r\n \r\n11. [Repeal]. Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, \r\n1981 (XXVII of 1981), s. 3 and Sen., II. \r\n \r\n 1 Subs. by the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1980 (36 of 1980), s. 4. \r\n 2 Subs. ibid., s.5. \r\n 3 Subs. by the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1980 (36 of 1980), s. 5. \r\n 4 Subs. ibid., s. 6.",
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