Disloyalty not a crime, says Delhi Court

New Delhi: An illicit relationship can become a ground for seeking divorce, but it would not travel beyond the realm of being an immoral act to the territory of a criminal act, a Delhi court has observed.

The observation of the court came while acquitting a man of the charge of abetting suicide of his wife, who allegedly hanged herself due to his extra-marital affair.

“The act of the accused in having illicit relationship may show his disloyalty to his wife. It may be betrayal of faith, but would not travel beyond the realm of being an immoral act to the territory of a criminal act inviting punishment under penal statute.

“It could have certainly given rise to his wife to seek divorce, but it will not fall within the ambit of abetment of suicide,” additional sessions judge Manoj Jain said absolving the accused in want of adequate evidences.