Citation

Annu. Rev. Popul. Law 1987; 14: 477-482.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Harvard Law School Library)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12346744

Abstract

This document contains major provisions of India's 1987 Rajasthan Sati (Prevention) Act. The Act seeks to prevent the voluntary or forced burning or burying alive of widows, an action known as "sati," and to prohibit glorification of this action through the observance of any ceremony, the participation in any procession, the creation of a financial trust, the construction of a temple, or any actions to commemorate or honor the memory of a widow who committed sati. Attempts to commit sati may be punished by imprisonment for 1-5 years and a fine. Directly or indirectly abetting the commission of sati is punishable by death or life imprisonment and a fine. Abetting attempts to commit sati may result in a fine and life imprisonment. Abetment is defined as inducing a widow to commit sati, making a widow believe that performance of sati will result in a spiritual benefit for her or her deceased husband or her family, obstructing police officers attempting to prevent sati, preventing a widow from saving herself, or being present at any place where sati is committed as an active participation to such commission or to any attendant ceremony. Glorification of sati can be punished by imprisonment for 1-7 years and a fine. The Act empowers Collectors and District Magistrates to take specific actions, which include removing temples or other structures constructed to glorify sati and appropriating funds collected to glorify sati. The Act further creates special courts to try offenses and places the burden of proof of innocence upon the accused.

Language: en