BNS §80
Dowry death
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Comparison
3[304B. Dowry death.—(1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called “dowry death”, and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death. Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “dowry” shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961).
(2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.]
(1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called "dowry death", and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.
(2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 304B (dowry death) preserved character-identically as BNS 80 with cross-chapter relocation.
Old position
IPC 304B is concerned with Dowry death. 3[304B
New position
BNS 80 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Dowry death. Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment
BNS 80 (Dowry death) preserves the framework of IPC 304B. BNS 80 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code. BNS 80 text: Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNS 80 (Dowry death) preserves the framework of IPC 304B. BNS 80 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code.
BNS 80 text: Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any...
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 304B continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 80 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNS 80 (Dowry death). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §304B → BNS §80 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/bns/80.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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