Court slams All-Women Police Stations in dowry case: Be law enforcers, not mediators

4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jul 10, 2026 03:28 PM IST

The officers manning such stations are expected to function not merely as investigators but also as facilitators of justice, equipped with empathy, legal acumen and constitutional sensitivity. (AI-generated image)

Slamming an “All Women Police Station” for allegedly persuading a bride’s father to privately settle a dowry dispute instead of registering a case, the Madras High Court has directed the officers concerned to deposit Rs 1 lakh and appear before the court with an explanation on July 14.

Holding that police cannot dilute criminal allegations through informal compromises, Justice L Victoria Gowri observed it is “paradoxical” that institutions entrusted to protect women are failing to discharge their statutory responsibilities with the required degree of sensitivity and legality.

“It is deeply disturbing that, instead of inspiring confidence among women, some All Women Police Stations are increasingly perceived as informal forums for negotiated settlements, often overlooking the mandatory requirements of criminal law,” the July 9 order noted.

The order continued, “An institution established to protect women cannot be permitted to degenerate into an informal adjudicatory mechanism operating outside the statutory framework. Police officers are neither arbitrators nor private mediators when allegations disclose commission of cognisable offences. Their foremost obligation remains faithful compliance with the mandate of criminal law.”

Justice L Victoria Gowri observed that the system meant to protect women has been failing to function in accordance with law.

Groom unilaterally cancelled marriage over dowry

Advocates Vanish and S Kishore Kumar, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that he is a father of a young woman and after years of toil and savings, he arranged the marriage of his daughter which collapsed on account of unlawful dowry demands.

It was submitted that the marriage was scheduled to be solemnised on June 8, 2026. However, before the scheduled date, the to-be groom’s family allegedly demanded additional dowry and, upon the petitioner expressing his inability to satisfy such illegal demands, unilaterally cancelled the marriage.

It was contended that the petitioner sought appropriate legal action, but instead of initiating the proceedings in accordance with law, the police allegedly facilitated a private settlement, persuading the petitioner to receive only Rs.5,00,000 towards partial refund of the dowry amount, and directed him to wait for another month for recovery, and thereafter closed the case.

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The Government Advocate D Rajaboopathy opposed the petitioner’s claim and stated that the complaint was duly enquired into and that the parties voluntarily arrived at an amicable settlement outside the police station.

All Women Police Stations: Tamil Nadu's Pioneering Reform

1992

Conceived under the leadership of then Chief Minister Selvi Dr J. Jayalalithaa

What They Are Built To Do

A Secure Forum

Approachable, empathetic space for women to seek redressal of grievances

Frontline Protection

Shielding victims of domestic violence and dowry harassment

The Balancing Act

Preserving family harmony wherever legally permissible

Social Mandate

Promoting gender sensitisation within society at large

The Officer's Role

Investigator and facilitator, with empathy, legal acumen and constitutional sensitivity

The End Goal

Ensuring justice remains accessible to vulnerable women

Explain yourself in trial: Court

The court noted that despite various government circulars envisioning counselling units, mobile counselling services, awareness programmes and village outreach initiatives as integral components of these institutions, many of these mechanisms have become virtually dormant. It added that the counselling units remain non-functional, mobile awareness programmes have largely disappeared, and the larger mission of social sensitisation appears to have been relegated to oblivion.

It held that the optimism generated by such progressive measures stands in stark contrast to the disturbing realities that continue to surface in the functioning of certain All Women Police Stations. It said that such an approach not only lacks legal sanction but also trivialises the gravity of allegations relating to dowry harassment.

Holding that the matter calls for serious judicial scrutiny, the court directed the police officer concerned to deposit Rs 1 lakh each with the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, and to appear before the court on July 14 with a detailed explanation.

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Somya Panwar works with the Legal Desk at The Indian Express, where she covers the various High Courts across the country and the Supreme Court of India. Her writing is driven by a deep interest in how law influences society, particularly in areas of gender, feminism, and women’s rights.

She is especially drawn to stories that examine questions of equality, autonomy, and social justice through the lens of the courts. Her work aims to make complex legal developments accessible, contextual, and relevant to everyday readers, with a focus on explaining what court decisions mean beyond legal jargon and how they shape public life.

Alongside reporting, she manages the social media presence for Indian Express Legal, where she designs and curates posts using her understanding of digital trends, audience behaviour, and visual communication. Combining legal insight with strategic content design, she works on building engagement and expanding the desk’s digital reach.

Somya holds a B.A. LL.B and a Master’s degree in Journalism. Before moving fully into media, she gained experience in litigation and briefly worked in corporate, giving her reporting a strong foundation. ... Read More

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Madras High Court