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ADULTERY  IS NO LONGER A CRIME ! SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN SECTION 497( ADULTERY) IPC.

ADULTERY IS NO LONGER A CRIME ! SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN SECTION 497( ADULTERY) IPC.

Section 497 IPC was a criminal offence of adultery which was one biased section. It was only applicable on a man. Only a man/husband was held liable for adultery. A man/husband had no right to proceed with a case/ complaint if a woman/wife commits adultery. Not only this, the section was misused by the woman/wife against her man/husband in order to harass the man/husband and defame him.
Thus, Supreme Court has stroked down section 497 IPC. Now the wife/woman has no right to prosecute husband/man in case of adultery. Adultery is no longer a criminal offence ! But there is point to note down that adultery still is a ground to seek divorce but it is not a criminal offence now. No criminal proceedings can be initiated against man//husband in case of adultery.
Thank you
Kanika Bhardwaj, Advocate
Ph.- +91-9582000415
New Delhi

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