Hyderabad, June 30: The government will examine redefining Section 377 of the IPC which makes homosexuality a crime.
Replying to a question at a news conference here on Monday, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily said: ‘‘We will not act in haste in repealing the controversial Section 377.’’ The provision, which has come to be known as anti-gay law, has pushed the government into a catch-22 situation with gays demanding its repeal and Christian and Muslim leaders opposing any amendment to the same,.
‘‘We have to think about it. We have constituted a committee with experts from health and law departments which will study the demand for repeal of the section,’’ Moily said.
Asked if the government was backtracking on the issue after initially announcing its willingness to repeal the provision, fearing protests from some religious groups which are against the move, the Minister said his earlier comments had been misquoted.
He clarified that he had only said the government would take a fresh look at the issue.
Moily’s clarification came in the wake of marches by gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transgenders in Chennai and Bangalore on Sunday.
His earlier statement on Thursday that the government was willing to examine the demand for repealing the relevant Section has sparked off a debate on decriminalising homosexuality.
He had told a TV channel that some sections of the IPC were outdated and Section 377 could be one of them.
–Agencies–