Jewelry given to bride on marriage is her personal property: Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has issued an important and historic decision. The Supreme Court has declared in its decision that gold, jewelry and bridal gifts given to the bride by parents, relatives or friends are the property of the bride only. The husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law or other in-laws have no legal or proprietary right over these jewelry.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shakeel Ahmed heard the case. Justice Shakeel Ahmed wrote the decision.

The Supreme Court clarified that withholding or illegally occupying the bride’s jewelry or gifts is tantamount to illegal deprivation of her property rights. The husband or in-laws cannot even use these jewelry.

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The judgment further said that the ownership of any gift will be determined on the basis of the intention for which the gift was given. The court also ruled that the wife can approach the family court for the return of her jewelry, dowry and other personal belongings, which has full authority to hear and decide such cases.

The Supreme Court rejected the husband’s appeal and upheld the Lahore High Court’s decision.