Dowry Prohibition Portal in Place for Public Complaints : State Tells Kerala High Court

The submissions were made via a counter affidavit submitted by the State on the ongoing PIL filed by a law graduate and public policy professional, seeking a direction to the State to bring in accountability regarding the complaints made pursuant to Rule 5 of the Kerala Dowry Prohibition Rules, 2004 and the action taken on the same.

The counter affidavit was submitted before the division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji.

The affidavit, submitted by the Director of the Women and Child Development Department and the 8th respondent in the case, states that the government has already taken steps to strengthen the implementation of anti-dowry laws.

According to the State, the portal allows aggrieved persons to file complaints online directly to the Court. The affidavit also notes that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Dowry Prohibition Act is currently under preparation and will be issued shortly.

The government clarified that, since the 2021 amendment of the Kerala Dowry Prohibition Rules, 2004, District Women and Child Development Officers have been appointed as District Dowry Prohibition Officers in all 14 districts, with the Director acting as the Chief Dowry Prohibition Officer for the State.

The Court has directed the State to annex the data in respect of the complaints received and the status of action taken pursuant to Rules 5 of Rules, 2004 in an additional counter affidavit.

The Case is posted on September 16, 2025.

Case Title - Tellmy Jolly v Union of India and Ors.

Case No - WP(PIL) 91/ 2025

Counsel for Petitioner - Kaleeswaram Raj, Thulasi K Raj, Aparna Narayan Menon

Counsel for Respondent - K Arjun Venugopal, O M Shalina (Deputy Solicitor General of India)

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