Document Type

Article

Disciplines

International Law

Abstract

When Sunita Vir married in 1991, her father, Kalam Singh, spent over $5,000 on her dowry, which consisted of cash, steel trunks, cupboards, a sewing machine, kitchen utensils, and most importantly, a black-and-white television set, a most coveted possession among India's lower-middle class families.' Still, the elaborate dowry was not enough for Sunita's new in-laws.' Less than two weeks after the marriage, Sunita's husband and in-laws began demanding more dowry from Sunita's family, specifically in the form of a new refrigerator. Sunita's parents could not provide the additional goods, having already acquired a large amount of debt to supply the original dowry With two other daughters to marry, they could do no more. Sunita's in-laws began beating her for her failure to secure the requested goods.' In 1993, less than two years after her marriage, Sunita's fatherin-law and brother-in-law held her down on a cot, while her husband doused her with kerosene and set her alight.' Sunita died in the hospital, but not before making a dying declaration accusing her in-laws of murder.' In Sunita's case, the Virs were sentenced to life imprisonment.' This successful sentencing is a rarity in India, where perpetrators of dowry violence frequently go unpunished.

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