Criticising the Supreme Court’s decision on adultery, the Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal has termed it anti-women decision. The Supreme Court declared the section 497 (adultery) “not a criminal offense”.
Totally disagree with SC on adultery. They’ve given license to married couples 4 adulterous relationships. What’s sanctity of marriage then?
Instead of making 497 gender neutral, criminalising it both for women and men they have decriminalised it totally! Anti women decision.
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) September 27, 2018
Striking down the Section 497 of the Indian penal code, the Supreme Court has pronounced judgment on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of adultery law as unconstitutional and archaic. CJI in his judgment stated that “Adultery can be ground for civil issues including dissolution of marriage but it cannot be a criminal offense.”
However, Swati Maliwal does not seem to be quite convinced with the Supreme Court’s decision and has questioned the sanctity of marriage saying “In a way, you’ve given open general license to the people of this country to be in marriages but at the same time have illegitimate relationships with others.”
A bench of five judges headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was hearing the case and said, said that Section 497 is a violation of the right to equality and right to equal opportunity to women.”
Totally disagree with SC on adultery. They’ve given license to married couples 4 adulterous relationships. What’s sanctity of marriage then?
Instead of making 497 gender neutral, criminalising it both for women and men they have decriminalised it totally” @SwatiJaiHind pic.twitter.com/SlJstKkDRN
— Amit Mishra (@Amitjanhit) September 27, 2018
Even though the Supreme Court’s judgment was appreciated and welcomed by lawyers and activists, Maliwal condemned the decision and wrote on her Twitter, “Totally disagree with SC on adultery. They’ve given license to married couples 4 adulterous relationships. What’s sanctity of marriage then? Instead of making 497 gender neutral, criminalising it both for women and men they have decriminalised it totally! Anti-women decision.”
