(1) A complaint may be filed by any aggrieved person or a parent or other relative of such person or by any Recognised Welfare Institution or Organisation, in writing to Dowry Prohibition Officer, either in person or through a messenger or by post.
(2) Every such complaint received by the Dowry Prohibition Officer shall be serially numbered and duly registered in a Register in Form-No. II appended to these rules.
(3) The Dowry Prohibition Officer shall scrutinize the complaint and if it is found that the nature ad the contents of the complaint is such that it is apparently coming within the purview of section 3 or 4 or 4Aor 5 or 6 of the Act, he shall be immediately conduct an enquiry to collect such evidence from the parties as to the genuiness of the complaint.
(4) The Dowry Prohibition Officer shall conduct an on the spot investigation and can collect such evidence either oral or in writing from the parties or witnesses or he can fix up a hearing of the parties and witnesses in his office or in a place convenient to him without causing much inconvenience or hardship to the parties.
(5) The Dowry Prohibition Officer shall intimate or serve notices to the parties and witnesses of the date, time and place of hearing on the complaints in Form-Ill appended to these rules.
(6) The Dowry Prohibition Officer shall fix different dates from hearing of the parties or witnesses if he thinks that the proceedings cannot be concluded in a day or for any other grounds appear to be valid or reasonable to him.
(7) The Dowry Prohibition Officer shall draw up a Calendar for the hearing of petitions and as far as possible hear and record his finding, as to the commission of the offence as soon as the hearing is concluded.
(8) Every petition shall be enquired into and hear and come to a finding within a month from the date of the receipt.
Provided that the Dowry Prohibition Officer may, in his discretion take a further time of one month to come to a finding where he is satisfied that there exists sufficient cause for such extension of time to come to a finding.
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(9) The Dowry Prohibition Officer shall have the power to decline an adjournment request or petition and limit the time for oral evidence or proceedings.
(10) Where on the date fixed for hearing of the complaint or petition or on any other date to which such hearing may be adjourned, the complaint or petitioner does not appear the Dowry Prohibition Officer, may in its discretion, either dismiss the complaint or petition for default or hear and come to a finding as to its merit, which shall be recorded in the case file.
(11) The Dowry Prohibition Officer may, if sufficient cause is shown-during any stage of investigation or hearing or proceedings grant time to the parties, witnesses or any of them and adjourn the hearing of the application.
(12) The Dowry Prohibition Officers may utilize the services of District Probation Officers or Family Counsellors under the Voluntary Action Bureau of State Social Welfare Advisory Board for collecting information or conducting enquiries or assisting in any stage of enquires or proceedings relating to a complaint, petition or application under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
(13) On receipt of requisition from the Dowry Prohibition Officer, the Probation Officers shall conduct necessary enquiries, collect information and furnish such details or report promptly as requested by the Dowry Prohibition Officer.
(14) The Dowry Prohibition Officer is competent to issue any direction to the parties to every commission of any offence under the Act if he thinks such preventive measures would be effective and useful to maintain harmonious relationship with the spouses and their families.
(15) In all cases investigated under the Act, the proceedings shall be conducted in a home-like atmosphere ensuring the dignity of the parties and without causing much disturbance to the sanctity of family life.
(16) Where any dowry is received by any person other than the women and a complaint is received in respect of non-transfer of such dowry to the women who is entitled to it in accordance with section-6 of the Act, the Dowry Prohibition Officer shall issue directions to parties to transfer the same within the stipulated time.
*[6. Submission of list of presents by parties to the marriage.— The parties to any marriage of any of the parents or either of them shall furnish to the concerned Dowry Prohibition Officer within one month from the date of marriage, a copy of the list of Presents prepared in accordance with the Dowry Prohibition (Maintenance of List of Presents to the Bride and Bridegroom) Rules, 1985.]
* Inserted vide Notification in G.O.Ms.No. 12/2004-Wel.(SW-IV), dt., 4th May 2004 published in Extraordinary Part – II Gazette No.7 of the 7th May 2004.
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