The Bombay high court on Monday asked the state government to submit a reply on the different types of complaints being registered against matrimonial websites and apps offering “dowry settlement”, ad
The Bombay high court on Monday asked the state government to submit a reply on the different types of complaints being registered against matrimonial websites and apps offering “dowry settlement”, adding that the state must include grievance redressal mechanisms in the report, apart from details of actions taken while making enquiries about the issue. The state has four weeks to file the reply.
On June 16, 2016, another bench of the high court had directed the state to appoint at least one dowry prohibition officer (DPO) in every district within two months, and also set up a grievance redressal mechanism wherein aggrieved people can file complaints against such websites.
The court also directed the state to give wide publicity to the appointment of such DPOs and the grievance redressal mechanism the government would set up.
A division bench of Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice Makrand Karnik was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Priscilla Samuel, who sought criminal action against those matrimonial sites that are helping settle dowry-related disputes between two parties. She also wanted the government to appoint one DPO in every police station. The petitioner, however, had not named any particular website in her PIL.
On Monday, the court was informed that the central government is planning to take action against such websites under the Information Technology Act. The petitioner had raised objections at the central government level and brought to the notice of the court that another bench, during the order passed on July 16, had directed that criminal action be initiated against such websites.
Subsequently, acting Advocate General Rohit Deo said that since the government had “set up grievance redressal mechanisms and started registering complaints, as well as initiated action against such websites”, the court wants to see what types of complaints are being registered and what action the state has taken so far.
