▁years ▁of ▁the ▁marriage ▁and ▁where ▁there ▁is ▁evidence ▁that ▁she ▁suffered ▁cruel ty ▁and ▁har ass ment ▁in ▁connection ▁with ▁the ▁dow ry ." ▁Unfortunately , ▁this ▁particular ▁law ▁does ▁not ▁provide ▁a ▁compreh ensive ▁definition ▁of ▁dow ry , ▁which ▁can ▁change ▁the ▁way ▁it ▁is ▁demanded ▁and ▁delivered . ▁Ult imately , ▁this ▁allowed ▁perpet rat ors ▁more ▁flex ibility ▁in ▁the ▁court ▁of ▁dow ry ▁death . ▁The ▁seven - year ▁clause ▁is ▁equally ▁problem atic , ▁as ▁it ▁simply ▁allowed ▁hus b ands ▁to ▁wait ▁until ▁that ▁period ▁ended ▁to ▁burn ▁or ▁otherwise ▁cause ▁the ▁death ▁of ▁their ▁b ride . ▁ ▁Another ▁major ▁Indian ▁law , ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁" Ant i - C ru el ty ▁Stat ute ", ▁prohib its ▁cruel ty ▁towards ▁a ▁wife ▁and ▁subjects ▁the ▁husband ▁and / or ▁in - la ws ▁to ▁fin es ▁or ▁imprison ment ▁if ▁they ▁inf lict ▁cruel ty ▁upon ▁the ▁wife . ▁However , ▁the ▁law ▁is ▁equally ▁ambigu ous , ▁which ▁results ▁in ▁in ade qu ate ▁enfor cement ▁of ▁b ride ▁burning ▁and ▁dow ry ▁mur ders . ▁ ▁Article ▁ 1 ▁of ▁the ▁Universal ▁Dec laration ▁of ▁Human ▁Rights ▁decl ares ▁the ▁following : ▁“ All ▁human ▁be ings ▁are ▁born ▁free ▁and ▁equal ▁in ▁dign ity ▁and ▁rights . ▁They ▁are ▁end owed ▁with ▁reason ▁and ▁conscience ▁and ▁should ▁act ▁towards ▁one ▁another ▁in ▁a ▁spirit ▁of ▁brother hood .” ▁Article ▁ 5 ▁proc laim s : ▁"