New Delhi, July 01: The Delhi High Court is likely
to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on the controversial penal
provision on homosexuality even as the government is grappling
with the option to scrap it from the statute.
A bench of Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S
Muralidhar had reserved its order on November 7 last year
after marathon proceedings in which the governemnt had
vociferously opposed scrapping of section 377 of the Indian
Penal Code which prescribes punishment upto life imprisonment
for indulging in unnatural sexual acts.
Before the judgement was reserved, the Ministries
concerned with the issue in the previous UPA government had
unanimously described homosexuality as "the most indecent
behaviour" in society.
The Centre had submitted that gay sex is immoral and
reflection of a perverse mind and its decriminalisation would
lead to moral degradation of society.
"Every citizen has the right to lead a decent and
moral life in society and the right would be violated if such
behaviour (gay sex) is legalised in the country," the
government had contended adding allowing gay sex would pose a
health hazard to society.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, July 02, 2009, 08:44