Indian Penal Code 1860
Section 497 :
1.[Adultery:
Classification of Offence:
Offence: Adultery
Punishment :Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both.
Cognizable or Non-cognizable :Non-cognizable
Bailable or Non-bailable : Bailable.
Compoundable or Non-compoundable : The husband of the woman.
By Which Court Triable : Magistrate of the first class.
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Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both. In such case the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor.]
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1. WP (Crl.) 194/2017 Joseph Shine Vs Union of India. The Court decriminalised adultery, striking down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
