Streedhan (also spelled stridhan) is property over which a Hindu woman has absolute ownership, encompassing gifts received before, during, or after marriage from her parents, relatives, husband, or in-laws, as well as her own earnings and acquisitions. Under Indian law, streedhan is recognised as a woman's absolute property under Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and the Supreme Court has held that the husband and his family hold it only as trustees.
Legal definition
The concept of streedhan is rooted in classical Hindu law texts (Smritis) and has been incorporated into modern statutory law. The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 does not expressly define "streedhan" but Section 14 provides the statutory foundation:
(1) Any property possessed by a female Hindu, whether acquired before or after the commencement of this Act, shall be held by her as full owner thereof and not as a limited owner.
The traditional categories of streedhan, as recognised by Hindu law texts and judicial interpretation, include:
- Gifts received from parents, relatives, and friends before, during, or after marriage
- Gifts received from the husband and in-laws (including wedding gifts and jewellery)
- Property acquired through the woman's own skill, labour, or earnings
- Property inherited by the woman
- Property received in lieu of maintenance
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 distinguishes dowry from streedhan — dowry is property demanded as a condition of marriage, while streedhan is property given voluntarily to the woman as her own.
How courts have interpreted this term
Pratibha Rani v. Suraj Kumar [(1985) 2 SCC 370]
The Supreme Court established the foundational principle that streedhan is the absolute property of the wife. The Court held that the husband and his family members who hold streedhan are in the position of trustees and are bound to return it to the woman upon her demand. The misappropriation of streedhan by the husband or in-laws constitutes criminal breach of trust under Section 405 IPC (now Section 316 BNS).
Rashmi Kumar v. Mahesh Kumar Bhada [(1997) 2 SCC 397]
The Supreme Court reiterated that a husband who refuses to return streedhan to his wife is guilty of criminal breach of trust. The Court held that any property entrusted by the wife to the husband during the subsistence of the marriage retains its character as streedhan, and the husband has a fiduciary obligation to preserve and return it.
K. Vimala v. K. Veeraswamy [(1991) 2 SCC 375]
The Supreme Court clarified the scope of streedhan, holding that it includes all gifts and property given to a woman at the time of or in connection with her marriage, including gifts from her own family as well as from her husband's family. The Court held that Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act makes a Hindu woman the absolute owner of her streedhan, and no male member of the family has any right, title, or interest in it.
Why this matters
Streedhan is one of the most litigated concepts in Indian family law because disputes over jewellery, gifts, and property given to the bride frequently arise upon the breakdown of a marriage. The distinction between streedhan and dowry is critical — while dowry involves a demand linked to the marriage (and its demand is a criminal offence under the Dowry Prohibition Act), streedhan is a voluntary gift to the woman that becomes her absolute property.
The Supreme Court's characterisation of the husband and in-laws as "trustees" of streedhan has significant practical consequences. If the husband refuses to return streedhan, the wife can file a criminal complaint for breach of trust under Section 405 IPC (Section 316 BNS) and also seek recovery through civil proceedings. This dual remedy gives women a powerful enforcement mechanism to recover their property.
Practitioners advising women in matrimonial disputes should document streedhan meticulously. Maintaining an inventory of jewellery and gifts received at the time of marriage, supported by photographs, bills, and witness statements, is essential for establishing ownership claims. Courts have consistently held that the burden of proof lies on the husband or in-laws to justify retention of streedhan — if the woman can establish that the property was given to her, the onus shifts to the custodian to explain why it has not been returned.
Related terms
Broader concepts:
Related concepts:
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between streedhan and dowry?
Streedhan is property voluntarily given to a woman and is her absolute property. Dowry is property demanded as a condition of marriage and is prohibited under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The key distinction is voluntariness — gifts freely given to the bride are streedhan; property demanded by or on behalf of the groom's family is dowry.
Can a husband use his wife's streedhan?
A husband may use streedhan with the wife's consent during a period of distress, but he acts as a trustee and is legally obligated to return it when the wife demands it. If he refuses, it constitutes criminal breach of trust under Section 405 IPC (Section 316 BNS).
How does a woman recover streedhan after separation?
A woman can file a criminal complaint for criminal breach of trust if the husband or in-laws refuse to return streedhan. She can also seek recovery through civil suit and through proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which allows the court to order return of streedhan under Section 19(8).
Does streedhan include property acquired by the woman through her own earnings?
Yes. Streedhan includes all property over which a Hindu woman has absolute ownership, including property acquired through her own skill, labour, and earnings. Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act makes a Hindu woman the full owner of any property possessed by her, regardless of how it was acquired.
This entry is part of the Veritect Indian Legal Glossary, a comprehensive reference of Indian legal terminology grounded in statutory text and judicial interpretation.
Last updated: 2026-03-27. Veritect provides this content for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.