Adultery no longer a criminal offence in India: Here's a look at where other countries stand
New Delhi, Sep 27: The Supreme Court has struck down adultery as a criminal offence, ruling that the 19-century law that "treats a husband as the master', is unconstitutional. "Adultery is arbitrary and it offends the dignity of a woman," Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who led the five-judge bench said.
Also Read | Adultery not a crime, but ground for divorce says Supreme Court
Here is a look at where other countries stand:
- The Philippines is one among the Asian countries where the practice of adultery and concubinage is a crime.
- In China, adultery is not regarded as a crime but can be a ground for divorce.
- South Korea, in 2015, was the latest country that decriminalised adultery.
- In Pakistan, adultery is a crime under the Hudood Ordinance, promulgated in 1979.
- Japan adultery is no longer a crime.
Also Read | 16 things the Supreme Court said while striking down adultery as an offence
What did the adultery law say?
The law dictated that the woman could not be punished as an abettor. Instead, the man was considered to be a seducer. It also did not allow women to file a complaint against an adulterous husband. A man accused of adultery could be sent to a prison for a maximum of five years, made to pay a fine, or both.