liability of Father In Law to return the Dowry

well stri dhan belongs to the lady only and what ever given at the time of marriage belongs to the girl and whosoever is in the possession of it would have to return the same. so my view is that in laws are liable to return the goods if they are in possesion of it .

Your question is probably about the CASH given at the time of marriage. In-laws cannot be said to be the recipient of that cash (If not otherwise proved) and therefore Not liable to pay. If the Bride's side has the proof of cash given to groom's side then first thing is to ascertain the recipient.

In case of dowry in material form, those who possess it may be liable.

I think that as Dowry (giving/taking) is illegal, the question of refund of an illegal amount handed over at the time of marriage cannot be claimed. Void ab initio.

If one gives dowry in compelling circumstances succumbing to the demands of the groom's family giving dowry is not a crime.

Mr. Gupta has given an apt reply and i agree with him.......but one thing i must tell u that recently Hon'ble SC has given a judgement where by the definition of the term dowry has been explained.

SC has said payments which are customary payments e.g. given at the time of birth of a child or other ceremonies as are prevalent in different socities are not covered by the expression dowry.

Please refer to Ran Singh V/s State of Haryana, 2008(3) Law Herald (SC) 2144

Appeal (crl.) No. 222 of 2008

"If one gives dowry in compelling circumstances succumbing to the demands of the groom's family giving dowry is not a crime".

3. A perusal of the complaint would show that as per allegations dowry demand was made even before marriage i.e. at the time of engagement and an AC was demanded from her father by her in-laws and her father had assured that AC would be given at the time of marriage. However, she told her father “You have given car and AC at the demand of in laws, what will happen if they demand a flat tomorrow?”. Despite her this conversation with her father and despite her knowing that dowry demand had already been made, she married in the same family irrespective of the fact that she was well-educated lady and was an engineer and her brother was in police. In fact, these kinds of allegations made after breakdown of the marriage show the mentality of the complainant. I consider where these kinds of allegations are made, the police should simultaneously register a case under Dowry Prohibition Act (in short, the Act) against the parents of the complainant as well, who married their daughter despite demand of dowry. Section 3 of the Act prohibits giving and taking of dowry. If a woman of grown up age and well educated gets married to a person despite dowry demand, she and her family becomes accomplice in the crime under Dowry Prohibition Act.