Introduction Offence under Section 498A of the IPC, relating to harassment for dowry and cruelty to women in her matrimonial home, may become slightly less stringent on husband and in-laws. After many complaints about its misuse, the law commission is set to recommend making the offence compoundable. This means the husband and in-laws of a complainant would have the choice of compromising and getting the case off their back, provided the woman agrees. Till the compromise takes place, the offender would stay in jail unless they get bail (Times of India News paper dated May 26, 2011).     Payment of a dowry, gift-often financial, has a long history in many parts of the world. In India, the payments of a dowry was prohibited in 1961 under Indian law and subsequently by Sections 304B and 498A of the Indian Penal Code were enacted to make it easier for the wife to seek redress from potential harassment by the husband’s family. Dowry law ....