India court urges dowry clampdown

The practice of asking women for dowries is illegal

India's Supreme Court has urged the government to ask all its male employees to disclose any dowry received as part of their marriage.

The court also criticised the government for doing little to prevent the practice.

Despite a four-decade-old law that bans the system, the giving of dowries to a bridegroom is still widely practised around India.

Many young women die each year in killings linked to dowry demands.

Lavish demands

"The conscience of society needs to be fully awakened to the evil of the dowry system," Supreme Court judge PK Balasubramanyan said.

"The demand for dowry itself should lead to a loss of face in society for those who demand it."

Nisha Sharma won praise for her stance on her dowry

The court said it hoped the government could come up with an efficient mechanism to effectively implement the anti-dowry law.

The BBC's Ayanjit Sen in Delhi says that if the government accepts the proposal of the court a candidate aspiring for a government job, and those already in service, would have to provide information about any dowry taken by them.

Under the anti-dowry law, the custom is punishable by a jail term.

The giving of money and gifts by a bride's family to the groom has continued in the largely male-dominated society.

It is particularly evident among urban middle-class households, where demands can include a house, car or large sums of cash.

In 2003, a young woman in Delhi made headline news when she called off her marriage minutes before the wedding ceremony because her prospective husband demanded more money.

Nisha Sharma's action received wide publicity and made her a role model and icon for many middle-class Indian women across the country.