The Supreme Court would resume hearing on the controversial issue of decriminalising gay sex from Tuesday when the gay rights activists and parents of gay people would put forward their views.
In the last hearing on February 29, various social and religious organisation had vehemently opposed the decriminalisation of gay sex saying that allowing such acts would lead to a “horrendous” situation.
The Centre, who had earlier flip-flopped on their stands on the issue, also filed an affidavit saying it is not taking any stand on the issue and it is for the court to adjudicate it.
The Delhi High Court had in 2009 decriminalised gay sex as provided in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and had ruled that the sex between two consenting adults of same sex in private would not be an offence.
Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the IPC makes gay sex a criminal offence entailing punishment up to life term. The apex court is hearing petitions filed by anti-gay rights activists and also by political, social and religious organisations, which have opposed the high court verdict. Senior BJP leader B P Singhal, who had opposed in the high court the plea for legalisation of gay sex, has challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court, saying such acts are illegal, immoral and against ethos of Indian culture.
Religious organisations like All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Utkal Christian Council and Apostolic Churches Alliance too have also challenged the high court’s order. Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Right, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munn Kazhgam, astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal and yoga guru Ramdev too have challenged the High Court verdict before the apex court. So has a Delhi-based social group Krantikari Manuvadi Morcha.
–PTI