Rights activists divided on idea of reintroducing adultery as gender neutral offence

A parliamentary panel in India is considering recommending the re-inclusion of adultery as a crime in a gender-neutral form. The move has sparked a debate over the pros and cons of criminalizing adultery, after the Supreme Court decriminalized it in 2018. Supporters argue that adultery causes harm to the institution of marriage and affects families and society. However, critics argue that criminalizing adultery may not offer protection to affected women and may be misused to defame and blackmail women.