Make Adultery A Civil Wrong

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Authorities are examining a suggestion by a women's group to make adultery a civil wrong instead of a criminal offence, Parliament was told today.

The move to make adultery a civil wrong has been recommended by the National Commission for Women, Law and Justice Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The NCW recommendations are under examination of the Women and Child Development Ministry, Bhardwaj said.

The NCW has recommended that adultery be viewed as a breach of trust and treated as a civil wrong rather than a criminal offence but only after working out a national consensus, Bhardwaj said.

The NCW has furnished its comments to the W&CD Ministry in respect of a reference made to the Commission by the Ministry, following a petition submitted to the President of India.

As per the existing provision in section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the wife (who is involved in adultery) shall not be punishable as an abettor.

UNI