Adultery law weighted in favour of men: SC

sfg-2026
ForumIAS LATEST
    1. 5 August | Toppers Wrote 1000 Answers Between Prelims & Mains! | Click Here to Watch →
    2. 5 August | Are you the Average of the 5 People Around You by Mr. Ayush Sinha | Click Here to Watch →
    3. 5 August | First UPSC Mains Don't Chase AIR 1 by Mr Ayush Sinha | Click Here to Watch →

Adultery law weighted in favour of men: SC

Context

Adultery law

SC’s view

  • The time has come when the society must realise that a woman is equal to a man in every respect
  • The provision [Section 497] really creates a dent in the individual independent identity of a woman when the emphasis is laid on the connivance or consent of the husband,” the court said. “This is tantamount to subordination of a woman where the Constitution confers equal status [on women]

Provisions that court shall examine

The court will examine two aspects of the penal provision

  • One, why does Section 497 treat the man as the adulterer and the married woman as a victim?
  • Two, the offence of adultery ceases the moment it is established that the husband connived or consented to the adulterous act. So, is a married woman the “property” of her husband, a passive object without a mind of her own?
Print Friendly and PDF
Blog
Academy
Community