Adultery and the Indian law

Adultery shows a conflict between social pressure and individual struggle for happiness. Adulterers have always suffered from society's disapproving attitude towards them. In India, adultery is criminalized under Section 497 IPC. As per criminal law in India, offence of adultery is directed only at the ‘outsider’ who violated the sanctity of the matrimonial home when the outsider is a man. Thus it amounts to gender based discrimination in law. In our opinion, continuance of this law in present day, demands extensive reforms and amendments.