The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 25 Oct 2023
For Prelims: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, IPC (Indian Penal Code), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), Indian Evidence Act, Supreme Court, Adultery, National Judicial Data Grid.
For Mains: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Amendments, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why in News?
Recently, a Parliamentary Committee has reviewed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 Bill, proposing significant changes to India's Criminal Justice System, recommendations including a gender-neutral provision criminalizing adultery.
- The BNS Bill, introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, seeks to replace the colonial-era IPC (Indian Penal Code).
What are the Key Highlights of the Proposed Changes in BNS?
- Adultery and Gender-Neutral Provision:
- The parliamentary committee has recommended including a gender-neutral provision that criminalizes Adultery.
- This move comes after the Supreme Court (SC) declared Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalized adultery, as unconstitutional in 2018.
- The panel seeks to protect the institution of marriage but in a gender-neutral way.
- The parliamentary committee has recommended including a gender-neutral provision that criminalizes Adultery.
- Non-Consensual Sex and Bestiality:
- The committee is considering a clause to criminalize non-consensual sex between men, women, or transpersons, as well as acts of bestiality.
- This indicates an effort to address various forms of sexual offenses comprehensively.
- Definition of Terms:
- The committee has suggested better definitions for terms like "community service" and "life imprisonment" in the bill.
- Positive Changes:
- The new draft code has included the removal of Section 124A (Sedition) and provisions for prosecuting offenses committed in foreign countries.
What are the Arguments for Legalizing and Criminalizing Adultery?
- Legalizing Adultery:
- Individual Autonomy and Privacy: The Supreme Court, in Joseph Shine vs. The Union of India, 2018 judgment recognized the importance of individual autonomy and the right to privacy.
- Legalizing adultery acknowledges the right of adults to make decisions about their personal relationships without state interference.
- The court said that the 158-year-old law was unconstitutional and is violative of Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty) and Article 14 (Right to equality).
- Doctrine of Curvature: Section 497 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) is based on the Doctrine of Coverture.
- This doctrine, not recognised by the Constitution, holds that a woman loses her identity and legal right with marriage, is violative of her fundamental rights.
- Human Liberty: According to the Supreme Court (SC), Marriage does not mean ceding autonomy of one to the other.
- Ability to make sexual choices is essential to human liberty. Even within private zones, an individual should be allowed her choice.
- The SC observes that "Society imposes impossible virtues on a woman, raises her to a pedestal. Confines her to spaces. Objectifies her and says she should be pure. But society has no qualms to commit rape, honour killings, sex-determination and infanticide".
- Deterrence Effect: Legalization could eliminate the chilling effect of the law on individuals who may be reluctant to leave abusive or unhappy marriages due to the fear of legal consequences.
- It might encourage open communication and resolution of marital issues.
- Reducing Judicial Burden: Adultery cases used to burden the legal system. Legalizing it can free up the courts to address more pressing issues and cases.
- Criminalizing Adultery:
- Preservation of Marital Sanctity: Adultery can harm the institution of marriage, leading to broken families and emotional trauma for the spouse and children. Criminalizing it can be seen as a means to protect the sanctity of marriage.
- Gender Protection: It is argued that criminalizing adultery is a means to protect women from unfaithful spouses who might otherwise abandon them, leaving them economically vulnerable.
- Moral and Societal Values: It is argued that the adultery law upholds traditional moral and societal values, which are still important to many in Indian society.
- Criminalizing adultery could be viewed as a way to protect and preserve the family structure, which is considered a fundamental building block of society.
Way Forward
- Creating awareness about the implications of adultery on families and relationships can help individuals make informed decisions about their personal lives.
- Encouraging couples to seek marriage counseling and mediation in cases of marital discord can be a proactive approach to resolving issues before they lead to adultery. Promoting the availability and accessibility of such services can be beneficial.
- There is a need to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration and mediation, to help couples resolve issues related to infidelity or marital discord outside of the court system.