Section 497 Verdict Updates: Supreme Court decriminalises adultery in a unanimous judgement

The Supreme Court of India will be going to give the verdict on two major issue today. However, SC has started giving its verdict on Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which is an offence if a man has sex with the wife of another married man without his consent.

Adultery is the only provision of IPC which treats a married woman as the property of their husband. Also, it also treats men and women differently.

The five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Justice of India Dipak Misra has started reading out the verdict on the petition challenging the validity of Section 497 (Adultery) of IPC.

Here’s what the Judgement:

Supreme Court decriminalises adultery in a unanimous judgement

Adultery can be ground for divorce & a person will have civil remedies for it

The magnificent beauty of the democracy is I, you and we, said CJI.

'Parameters of fundamental rights should include rights of women. Individual dignity important in a sanctified society.System can't treat women unequally. Women can't be asked to think what a society desires,' said Supreme Court.

Adultery can be grounds for dissolution of marriage: CJI reading verdict on petition challenging validity of Section 497 (Adultery) of IPC

CJI said that ‘equality is the governing principle of a system. Husband is not the master of the wife.’