Delhi Court Rules on Stridhan: Not All Marriage Gifts Qualify

A recent decision by a Delhi court has clarified that not every item given to a woman at the time of her marriage qualifies as stridhan, or a woman's absolute property. The court dismissed a woman's plea seeking the return of certain articles, including a car, citing insufficient evidence of ownership.

The ruling came from Judicial Magistrate Sonika during a hearing under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. Stridhan refers to movable or immovable assets received by a woman during her lifetime, including at marriage or childbirth.

The court examined the documents filed by the petitioner but found no conclusive proof that the items listed as dowry were indeed stridhan. The court highlighted the importance of evidence such as receipts or witness affidavits. It stated that while trials are pending, orders on stridhan claims cannot be made on unverified lists, and the petitioner may seek redressal with proper evidence at trial.