Stridhan - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition stridhan

Definition :

Stridhan, a Hindu married woman is absolute owner of her 'stridhan' property and can deal with it in any manner she likes-she may spend the whole of it or give it away at her own pleasure by gift or will without any reference to her husband. Ordinarily, the husband has no right or interest in it with the sole exception that in times of extreme distress, as in famine, illness or the like, the husband can utilise it but he is morally bound to restore it or its value when he is able to do so. This right is purely personal to the husband and the property so received by him in marriage cannot be proceeded against even in execution of a decree for debt, Pratibha Rani v. Suraj Kumar, AIR 1985 SC 628: (1985) 3 SCR 190: (1985) 2 SCC 370.

Stridhan, are the properties gifted to a girl before the marriage, at the time of marriage or at the time of giving farewell or thereafter. It is her absolute property with all rights to dispose at her own pleasure. It does not become a joint property of the wife and the husband has no title or independent dominion over the property as owner thereof, Rashmi Kumar v. Mahesh Kumar, 1977 SCC (Cri) 415: (1997) 2 SCC 397.

Stridhana, the properties gifted to her before the marriage, at the time of marriage or at the time of giving farewell or thereafter are her stridhana properties. It is her absolute property with all rights to dispose at her own pleasure. He has no control over her stridhana property. Husband may use it during the time of his distress but nonetheless he has a moral obligation to restore the same or its value to his wife. Therefore, stridhana property does not become a joint property of the wife and the husband and the husband has no title or independent dominion over the property as owner thereof, Rashmi Kumar v. Mahesh Kumar Bhola, (1997) 2 SCC 397 (406).