For 157 years, our laws have said that if there is an adulterous relationship, the man is guilty but the woman despite having consensual sex is a 'victim'. The presumption was that a woman must have been 'lured' into having an illicit relationship, that they couldn't possibly be doing it for their own pleasure or by choice. That's why when the Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India struck down this part of our law called Section 497 today saying it was a violation of the fundamental right to life and liberty and "sexual autonomy must be respected", it was not just a relief for men, but also a bit of a feminist moment.
