India has adequate anti-dowry laws. However, we fail at enforcement and convictions. We have built law schools that teach Section 85 as a statutory provision without teaching students to recognise coercive control as it unfolds inside a marriage. We have produced legally educated citizens who can cite the law and still enforce the subordination it was designed to end.
This paradox highlights a critical gap between legal theory and practice. While the legal framework exists to protect women from dowry-related harassment and violence, the implementation remains weak. Conviction rates in dowry cases are abysmally low, and many cases are dismissed due to lack of evidence or procedural flaws.
Legal education in India often focuses on rote learning of statutes rather than understanding the social context and psychological dynamics of marital abuse. Students are taught the letter of the law but not its spirit. As a result, lawyers and judges may fail to identify subtle forms of coercion and control that do not leave visible marks but still constitute dowry harassment.
To address this, law schools must incorporate training on recognizing coercive control, including financial abuse, emotional manipulation, and social isolation. Sensitization programs for judges and police are equally crucial. Only then can the law fulfill its intended purpose of protecting women and ensuring justice.
