The Law Commission: Anti-Dowry Law should be less Stringent

The Law Commission of India on 18 January 2012 recommended the dilution of Anti-Dowry law to make it less stringent. The Commission, headed by Justice P V Reddi, recommended the Government to make Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with harassment for dowry and cruelty to a woman in her matrimonial home, a compoundable offence. Compoundable offences are those which can be compromised by the parties to the dispute. The permission of the court is not necessary. This means that those who would be booked in cases under this section would find it easier to get bail. 

 
The recommendation would allow the woman, involved in the case, to withdraw it with the permission of the court, provided she is not under any pressure.

Law Commission of India:It is an executive body established by an order of the Government of India. Its main function is to work for legal reform. The Commission is established for a fixed tenure and works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice. The first Law Commission wasset up during the British rule in 1834 by the Charter Act of 1833. The Nineteenth and the current Law Commission was established on 1 September 2009 under the Chairmanship of Justice P.Venkatarama Reddy. Its tenure was fixed till 31 August 2012.