Supreme Court Rules Bridal Gold Jewellery and Wedding Gifts Are the Bride’s Exclusive Property
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that gold jewellery gifted to a bride at the time of marriage is her exclusive personal property, and neither her husband nor her in-laws have any ownership rights over it.
The ruling was issued by a three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice, with the written judgment authored by Justice Shakeel Ahmed.
According to the judgment, withholding a bride’s jewellery amounts to an unlawful deprivation of her property rights. The court held that a wife has the legal right to seek the return of her jewellery by filing a claim before the Family Court.
The Supreme Court further declared that gold jewellery gifted to the bride by her parents also constitutes her personal property and cannot be claimed by her husband or his family.
The judgment clarified that Family Courts have full jurisdiction to hear cases involving a wife’s personal belongings and jewellery, including claims seeking the recovery of such items from a husband or mother-in-law.
The apex court dismissed the appeal related to the ownership of the gold jewellery, upholding the legal position that such disputes fall within the jurisdiction of the Family Court.
The court also ruled that all bridal gifts presented to the bride at the time of marriage are considered her personal property and are legally protected under her ownership rights.
