New Delhi: Anti-gay rights groups,
challenging legalisation of gay sex, were on Wednesday asked by the
Supreme Court to explain how such acts are against the order
of nature as submitted by them.
A bench of justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya said
that the interpretation of Constitution has changed over the
last sixty years and the issue has to be seen in that light.
"What is homosexuality? Who is the expert to explain
order of nature," the bench observed when the senior advocate
Amrendra Saran submitted that nature does not recognise
homosexuality and lesbianism which are against its order.
"Are surrogate mothers and test tube baby also against
the order of the nature," the bench observed while asking
Saran, appearing for Delhi Commission for Protection of Child
Right, to explain it.
The apex court was hearing petitions filed by anti-gay
rights activists and also by political, social and religious
organisations which have opposed the Delhi High Court verdict
decriminalising homosexual behaviour.
The bench would continue hearing the case tomorrow.
On February 7 last, the bench had refused to implead the
armed forces in the case on the contentious issue.
People and organisations from different fields have come
out in support of or against the path-breaking verdict of the
High Court which had sparked a controversy.
Several political, social and religious outfits have
asked the Supreme Court to give the final verdict on the
issue.
Senior BJP leader B P Singhal, who had opposed in the
High Court 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 have also opposed the High Court`s verdict.
Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Right, Tamil
Nadu Muslim Munn Kazhgam, astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal and
yoga guru Ramdev have also opposed the verdict in the apex
court.
PTI
