The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved the verdict on Sec 497 (Adultery) of the Indian Penal Code while observing that infidelity is the cause of breaking up of royal marriages. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, after hearing the arguments of the Centre, stated, "The idea of imposition of Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code is not to enforce monogamy but to ensure to protect fidelity in the marriage, which is a promise made by both the parties while entering to a marriage."

Additional Solicitor General, Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre said marriage instills a sense of sanctity between two individuals and also in the society, to which the CJI observed that adultery is an offence if done without the consent of the woman, if it is gender neutral, it would not be an offence.