The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on the Centre's plea that a 2018 apex court judgment to decriminalise adultery under Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code should not be applicable to the armed forces.

A bench headed by Justice RF Nariman and comprising Justices Navin Sinha and KM Joseph also sent the case to the Chief Justice for listing it before a five-Judge bench that had decriminalised adultery. The top court had then noted that it can only be a ground for divorce.