Beyond Criminalisation The Changing Legal Status of Adultery in India

Marriage has traditionally been understood as a relationship founded on trust, companionship and fidelity. Adultery, therefore, has often been viewed not merely as a private breach of trust but as conduct capable of affecting the legal relationship between spouses. Indian law, however, has undergone a significant transformation in determining how far the State should intervene in such conduct. What was once a criminal offence is today principally a matter of matrimonial law.