Remission of Dower
Introduction In this article i.e. Remission of Dower, we will deal with the rights of a woman to remit a dower. Firstly, Dower is a custom that is a vital part of a Muslim marriage between parties to the marriage. The dower is the right of a woman which cannot be waived off before the marriage through a… Read More »
Introduction In this article i.e. Remission of Dower, we will deal with the rights of a woman to remit a dower. Firstly, Dower is a custom that is a vital part of a Muslim marriage between parties to the marriage. The dower is the right of a woman which cannot be waived off before the marriage through a pre-contract or a pre-condition to the marriage. This is the right of the wife, and it solely rests upon her decision on how she prefers to dispose off the property or the sum of money of...
Introduction
In this article i.e. Remission of Dower, we will deal with the rights of a woman to remit a dower. Firstly, Dower is a custom that is a vital part of a Muslim marriage between parties to the marriage. The dower is the right of a woman which cannot be waived off before the marriage through a pre-contract or a pre-condition to the marriage.
This is the right of the wife, and it solely rests upon her decision on how she prefers to dispose off the property or the sum of money of the dower. Therefore, it is asserted that the right to the dower of the wife cannot be infringed or taken away from her.
I. Remission by wife
Once the dower has been given to the wife then she holds the authority upon the sum of money or property transferred to her by the virtue of the dower. Now, the decision lies upon the woman how she would like to utilize it. She can choose to remit the dower to her husband, his family, or her maternal home.
This remission has no bar. Meaning it would not be invalid to transfer the dower or gift the dower she received by the virtue of her marriage. She can even gift it to her husband with the feeling of love and affection and shall not affect the validity of the transfer or gift.
And this transfer shall not in any way or under any circumstance hold the husband liable to pay back or return the dower once remitted. However, under circumstances where the wife or the woman has transferred or gifted the property or sum amount by way of coercion or undue influence and it is proved before the court of law by way of evidence. Then by the virtue of the judgment passed by the court, the husband may have to return or refund the remitted dower.
Furthermore, the woman holding the right of dower also has the right to remit the dower as she pleases to. She can remit it in a deferred manner or as a whole as well.
II. Remission of Dower by a widow
The remission of dower by the widow whose husband has died is a very crucial act. On one hand, it is very clear that remission of the dower is in the hands of the woman who was transferred the dower in the first place by the virtue of marriage.
The woman whose husband has died, in his funeral the widow can choose to remit the property or whatever she has received as a part of the dower to her husband. But also, there comes the issue of the mental stability of the woman.
The woman whose husband has just passed away is obviously not in the mental state of mind to make serious and complicated decisions. Especially under such mental stress. However, it is believed that since she is the rightful owner of the Dower it shall be her responsibility and her decision to dispose off the property as she would like it to be.
Essential Conditions
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Indian Majority Act
The Muslim woman who is below the age of 18 cannot take the decision to gift or transfer the dower to any person. The basic requirement for a woman is to be a minimum of 18 years of age. It is also required for the woman to be in a healthy state of mind. That means an insane, lunatic or minor woman cannot choose to transfer or gift the dower.
Under such circumstances, the guardian of the woman is supposed to take responsibility and then it becomes their call to dispose-off the property. Also what needs to be asserted is that the dower is supposed to be transferred keeping in mind the well-being of the woman and the act should be in her interest and her interest.
Dower remission is’ freedom’ because it relinquishes a right to property. Under the rule, such release is not valid unless there is written permission from the woman herself.
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Absolute or conditional remission
Either absolute or conditional dower remission. Remission is conditional if the wife abandons her right to do something instead. Therefore, a wife may relinquish her dower claim on the condition that the husband pays her Rs. 100 per month as a special allowance up to a fixed period.
After the husband’s death, the widow’s right to do is exercisable against the husband’s legal heirs. A widow may remit her dower claim against such legal heirs either fully or conditionally.
Remission has to be in writing as it deals with the relinquishment of a right to property.
References
- The principles of Mohamedan law, Nisha, 2nd edition, 1998, p.108.
- Aqeel Ahmed, Muslim marriage, 10th Ed, 2008.