Adultery

Since the dawn of history every civilization had prescribed severe laws against at least some kind of sexual immorality. 

                                                        Biblical Civilization 

Oldest Adulterer known to Man (Biblical)

King David 

Gods way of punishing Adultery

Since Biblical times to Modern day civilization 

The oldest surviving legal codes (2100-1700 BC) was drawn up by the 

Kings Of Babylon

King Hammurabi made Adultery punishable by death 

Near Eastern and Classical cultures also treated it as a serious offence 

Hammurabis Code to the Modern day World 

Adultery and  Modern Law 

1 in 3 marriages will face the reality and the agony of adultery

Adultery:  Hammurabi's Code To Laws In India

Adultery laws are applicable only for a man in India

Married Woman are not subject to Adultery laws in India. 

Example

X (Male) and Y (Female) have been married for nine years. They both are professionals and lead a seemingly happy life. In the 5th year of their marriage, Y falls in love with her colleague Z (Male). X finds out about this affair and collects evidence of this. When he has enough evidence, he files a case of adultery under the relevant IPC provision.

In India, under the existing provisions, women cannot be prosecuted for adultery. So in the case mentioned above, Y’s husband can press charges of adultery on Z, who can get jail time of up to 5 years, but the same is not applicable for Y. This could, however, change, with the Supreme Court agreeing to revisit the provision.

In this case, both Y and Z are culpable of committing adultery. However, the law does not look at both parties in an adulterous relationship in the same light

                                                                  Other way round

                            If a Married man commits adultery with an unmarried woman 

                                                     He cannot be charged for the offence 

Adultery rules in Different Countries 

European nations have decriminalized adultery

Adultery in Western Nations: Legal consequence in divorce proceedings

Marriage is not for Everyone

Thailand takes the lead in being the most adulterous nation on Planet Earth

Thailand followed by Denmark and Germany take the honors

Germans and French dont care about their partners cheating 

Consequences Of Adultery

Snapshot

Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with adultery, reads as follows:

“497. Adultery—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.”

There are two things that this section lays down:

1. Only men, and not women, are punished for committing adultery.
2. The maximum punishment for adultery is five years with fine.

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