The Supreme Court on Thursday, 27 September, pronounced its judgment on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of Section 497 of the IPC, declaring as unconstitutional the penal provision on adultery. The court observed that the law was manifestly arbitrary and dents the individuality of women.
Legal experts and activists welcomed the judgment and lauded the court for striking down a 150 year old law.
Rekha Sharma, the Chief of National Commission for Women, told News18 that she welcomes the order.
Petitioner’s lawyer Raj Kaleshwaram told ANI that he was extremely happy with the judgment.
Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan called it a “fine judgement” that did away with an “antiquated” law.
Congress MP and president of women's wing of the party Sushmita Dev agreed with him.
Senior lawyer Harish Salve also praised the judgment, while reiterating the need to get rid of the older mindset that considered the wife as a property of her husband.
Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said the judgment was in coherence with the progressive values of the 21st century.
Lawyer Jaiveer Shergill said it was a much needed judgment.
Social activist Ranjana Kumari appreciated the judgment. She said that the patriarchal control over women's bodies is unacceptable.
However, Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal said decriminalising adultery completely is just going to add to the pain of women in the country.
"What is the sanctity of marriage?" she asked.
Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury agreed with her.
"This is like criminalising the triple talaq law. They have done that but now the men will just abandon us or not give us talaq. They will have polygamy or nikah halala which creates hell for us as women. I am glad it's not a crime anymore but I do not see how it helps. The court should... give us clarity," she said.
(With PTI inputs.)
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