The Commission of Sati (Prevention ) Act, 1987

(1) This Act may be called the Commission of Sati(Prevention) Act, 1987. (2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. (3) It shall come into force in a State on such date1as the Central Government may, by notification inthe Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different States.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "Code" means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974); (b) "glorification", in relation to sati, whether such sati, was committed before or after thecommencement of this Act, includes, among other things,-- (i) the observance of any ceremony or the taking out of a procession in connection with thecommission of sati; or (ii) the supporting, justifying or propagating the practice of sati in any manner; or (iii) the arranging of any function to eulogise the person who has committed sati; or (iv) the creation of a trust, or the collection of funds, or the construction of a temple or otherstructure or the carrying on of any form of worship or the performance of any ceremony thereat,with a view to perpetuate the honour of, or to preserve the memory of, a person who hascommitted sati; (c) "sati" means the act of burning or burying alive of-- (i) any widow along with the body of her deceased husband or any other relative or with anyarticle, object or thing associated with the husband or such relative; or (ii) any woman along with the body of any of her relatives, irrespective of whether suchburning or burying is claimed to be voluntary on the part of the widow or the woman orotherwise; (d) "Special Court" means a Special Court constituted under section 9; (e) "temple" includes any building or other structure, whether roofed or not, constructed or madeto preserve the memory of a person in respect of whom sati has been committed or used or intendedto be used for the carrying on of any form of worship or for the observance of any ceremony inconnection with such commission. (2) Words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Indian Penal Code (45of 1860), or in the Code shall have the same meanings as are respectively assigned to them in the IndianPenal Code or the Code.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code(45 of1860), whoever attempts to commit sati and does any act towards such commission shall be punishablewith imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both: Provided that the Special Court trying an offence under this section shall, before convicting anyperson, take into consideration the circumstances leading to the commission of the offence, the actcommitted, the state or mind of the person charged of the offence at the time of the commission of the actand all other relevant factors.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860),if any person commits sati, whoever abets the commission of such sati, either directly or indirectly, shallbe punishable with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine. (2) If any person attempts to commit sati, whoever abets such attempt, either directly or indirectly,shall be punishable with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, any of the following acts or the like shall also bedeemed to be an abetment, namely:-- (a) any inducement to a widow or woman to get her burnt or buried alive along with the body ofher deceased husband or with any other relative or with any article, object or thing associated with thehusband or such relative, irrespective of whether she is in a fit state of mind or is labouring under astate of intoxication or stupefaction or other cause impeding the exercise of her free will; (b) making a widow or woman believe that the commission of sati would result in some spiritualbenefit to her or her deceased husband or relative or the general well being of the family; (c) encouraging a widow or woman to remain fixed in her resolve to commit sati and thusinstigating her to commit sati; (d) participating in any procession in connection with the commission of sati or aiding the widowor woman in her decision to commit sati by taking her along with body of her deceased husband orrelation to the cremation or burial ground; (e) being present at the place where sati is committed as an active participant to such commissionor to any ceremony connected with it; (f) preventing or obstructing the widow or woman from saving herself from being burnt or buriedalive; (g) obstructing, or interfering with, the police in the discharge of its duties of taking any steps toprevent the commission of sati.

Whoever does any act for the glorification of sati shall bepunishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend toseven years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to thirtythousand rupees.