The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
(No.3 of 1988)
An Act to provide for the more
effective prevention of the commission of sati and its
glorification and for matters
connected herewith or
incidental thereto.
Whereas sati or the burning or burying alive of widows or women is revolting to the feelings of human nature and is no where
enjoyed by any of the religions of the India as an imperative duty;
And whereas it is necessary to take more effective measures to prevent the commission of sati and its glorification:
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:
PART I
Preliminary
1.Short Title, Extent and Commencement:
(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 date as the Central Government may, by notification in the official
Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different States.
2. Definitions:
(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 the
commencement of this Act, includes, among other things;
(i) The observance of any ceremony or the taking out of a procession in connection with the
commission 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 other
structure 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 has committed sati;
(c) "Sati" means the burning or burying alive of
(i) Any widow along with the body of her deceased husband or any other relative or with any article,
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 such burning or
burying is claimed to be voluntary on the part of the widow or the woman or otherwise.
(d) "Special Court" means a specially constituted court under Section 9;
(e) "Temple" includes any building or other structure, whether roofed or not, constructed or made to
preserve the memory of a person in respect of whom sati has been committed or used or intended to
be used for the carrying on of any form of worship or for the observance of any ceremony in
connection with such commission.
(2) Words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and defined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), or
in the Code shall have the same meanings as are respectively assigned to them in the Indian Penal Code or
PART 11
Punishments for Offences Relating to Sati
3. Attempt to Commit sati : Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), whoever attempts to
commit sati and does any act towards such commission shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
one year or with fine or with both :
Provided that the Special Court trying an offence under this section shall, before convicting any person, take into
consideration the circumstances leading to the commission of the offence, the act committed, the state of mind of
the person charged of the offence at the time of the commission of the act and all other relevant factors.
4. Abetment of sati :
1. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code (45of 1860), if any person commits sati,
whoever abets the commission of such sati, either directly or indirectly, shall be 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 be deemed to be an abetment,
namely:
(a) Any inducement to a widow or woman to get her burnt or buried alive along with the body of her deceased
husband or with any other relative or with any article, object or thing associated with the husband or such relative
irrespective of whether she is in a fit state of mind or is labouring under a state 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 spiritual benefit 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 thus instigating her to
commit sati;
(d) Participation in any procession in connection with the commission of sati or aiding the widow or woman in her
decision to commit sati by taking her along with the body of her deceased husband or relative to the cremation or
burial ground;
(e) Being present at the place where sati is committed as an active participant to such commission or to any
ceremony connected with it;
(f) Preventing or obstructing the widow or woman from saving herself from being burnt or buried alive;
(g) Obstructing or interfering with, the police in the discharge of its duties of taking any steps to prevent the
commission of sati.
5. Punishment For Glorification of Sati : Whoever does any act for the glorification of sati shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to seven years and with fine which shall not
be less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to thirty thousand rupees.
PART III
Powers of Collector or District Magistrate to Prevent Offences Relating to sati
6. Power to Prohibit Certain Acts:
(1) Where the Collector or the District Magistrate is of the opinion that sati or any abetment thereof is being or is
about to be committed, he may, by order, prohibit the doing of any act towards the commission of sati by any
person in any area or areas specified in the order.
(2) The Collector or the District Magistrate may also, by order, prohibit the glorification in any manner of sati by
any person in any area or areas specified in the order.
(3) Whoever contravenes any order made under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall, if such contravention is
not punishable under any other provision of this Act, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not
be less than one year but which may extend to seven years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand
rupees but which may extend to thirty thousand rupees.
7.Power to Remove Certain Temples or Other Structures:
1. The State Government may, if it is satisfied that in any temple or other structure which has been in existence
for not less than twenty years, any form of worship or the performance of any ceremony is carried on with a view
to perpetuate the honour of, or to preserve the memory of, any person in respect of whom sati has been
committed, by order, direct the removal of such temple or other structure.
2. The Collector or the District Magistrate may, if he is satisfied that in any temple or other structure, other than
that referred to in sub-section (1), any form of worship or the performance of any ceremony is carried on, with a
view to perpetuate the honour of, or to preserve the memory of, any person in respect of whom sati has been
committed, by order, direct the removal of such temple or other structure.
3. Where any order under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) is not complied with, the State Government or the
Collector or the District Magistrate, as the case may be, shall cause the temple or other structure to be removed
through a police officer not below the rank of a Sub-inspector at the cost of the defaulter.
8. Power to Seize Certain Properties:
1. Where the Collector or the District Magistrate has reason to believe that any funds or property have been
collected or acquired for the purpose of glorification-of the commission of any sati or which may be found under
circumstances which create suspicion of the commission of any offence under this Act, he may seize such funds or
property.
2. Every Collector or District Magistrate acting under sub-section (1) shall report the seizure to the Special
Court, if any, constituted to try any offence in relation to which such funds or property were collected or acquired
and shall await the orders of such Special Court as to the disposal of the same.