Kerala's Calicut University Makes Anti-Dowry Bond Must For Admissions

Anti-Dowry Bond: Calicut University students who fail to make the mandatory declaration risk losing their admission to the university, not receiving a degree, or having their degree revoked.

Calicut University, Kerala's largest university, has made it a prerequisite for students seeking admission to sign a declaration stating that they would neither offer nor accept dowry during their marriage. It has issued a directive to the principals of its affiliated institutions in this respect. This comes after state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan proposed that institutions require students to sign an undertaking against dowry.

Several dowry-related instances have recently surfaced in the state, sparking public outrage.

The declaration has warned against the withdrawal of degrees in case a student seeks dowry.

The declaration by the student says, "I aver in the full understanding that any breach of the rules or law relating to taking or abetting the taking of dowry shall render me liable for appropriate action, including cancellation of my admission to the university/non-grant not being granted degree/withdrawal of degree."