Mumbai: A class 12 sociology textbook printed by Maharashtra state education board has come into controversy, after it listed ‘ugliness of the bride’ as one of the reasons as to why parents seek dowry.

The controversial paragraph, reads, “If a girl is ugly and handicapped, it becomes very difficult for her to get married. To marry her, the girl’s bridegroom and his family demand more dowry. The helpless parents of such girls are then forced to pay up.”

The remark appears in a chapter titled 'Major Social Problems in India'. The chapter also stated other factors like religion, caste system, social prestige and compensation principle, as reasons for the grooms' families to demand dowry.

Notably, the book has been used over the past two years by numerous students to prepare for their Higher Secondary Certificate board examinations.

Naturally, the paragraph has received widespread flak from professors and students for being inconsiderate.

When asked about the passage which could be objected to by gender rights groups, an official of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education on Wednesday said the matter will be looked into.

Board chairman Gangadhar Mamane said, "I will discuss the issue with the board of studies and will then comment on it."