| Category of Bare Act | Name of the Act | Year of Promulgation |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Laws | Indian Penal Code | 1860 |
| Act Number | Enactment Date | Chapter Number |
| 45 | 06.10.1860 | 20 |
| Chapter Title | Sub-Chapter | Legislated by |
| Of Offences Relating to Marriage | - | Parliament of India |
The law was made defunct on 27 September 2018 by Supreme Court of India as it called the law unconstitutional because it "treats a husband as the master.
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.
STATE AMENDMENT
Andhra Pradesh
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 3 of 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-2-1992)].
| Offence Description | Punishment provided | Cognizable/Non-Cognizable |
|---|---|---|
| Adultery | Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both | Non-Cognizable |
| Bailable/Non-Bailable | Trial Court Details | Compoundable/Non-Compoundable |
| Bailable | Magistrate of the first class | Non-Compoundable |
| Compoundable by Whom | Concerned Ministry | Concerned Department |
| Non-Compoundable | Ministry of Home Affairs | Department of Internal Security |