Homosexuality: SC verdict on gay sex takes us back to 1860, says Chidambaram

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court dealt a blow to gay rights activists by upholding the constitutional validity of Section 377 making gay sex an offence, Union minister P Chidambaram on Thursday expressed his disappointment with the judgement. Speaking to an English news channel, Chidambaram said he was extremely disappointed with the SC judgement on gay rights, adding “we have gone back to 1860”. Ruing the verdict, the Finance Minister said laws cannot remain static. He further demanded that the government file a curative petition in the apex court and ask for matter to be reviewed by a bench of five judges. A bench of Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya yesterday set aside the Delhi High Court`s verdict which had in 2009 decriminalised gay sex among consenting adults in private. The bench allowed the appeals filed by various social and religious organisations challenging the High Court verdict on the ground that gay sex is against the cultural and religious values of the country. The bench, however, put the ball in Parliament`s court to take a decision on the controversial issue, saying it is for the legislature to debate and decide on the matter. With the apex court verdict, the operation of penal provision against gay sex has come into force. Under the penal provision, gay sex is an offence punishable with upto life imprisonment.