Supreme Court: Husband has no authority over “stridhan”

The Supreme Court ruled that if a husband borrows his wife’s “stridhan” in a time of need, he has a moral duty to restore it to her, considering it her absolute property.

Gifts given to a lady before marriage, during her marriage, at the departure ceremony, or thereafter are referred to as her “stridhan” possessions. The spouse is powerless over it. Referring to a previous ruling, the Bench said, “He may use it in times of need, but he has a moral obligation to restore the same or its value to his wife.”

“Gifts given to the bride by her parents, relatives, or husband are well known to constitute her stridhan,” a Bench said, ordering a man to reimburse his wife’s side for her misplaced gold within six months.