Sri Sri favours decriminalisation of gay sex, calls for scrapping obsolete laws

New Delhi: As the debate over Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that calls for criminalising gay sex continues, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has favoured making homosexuality legal.

In an exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18, Sri Sri put his weight behind the campaign for decriminalisation of gay sex.

Sharing his opinion on the issue, the spiritual guru said if the nation continues to hold on to the obsolete laws, it will go back to the 15th century.

While describing homosexuality as an “individual preference”, Sri Sri opined that in order to bring in bold reforms, courage and conviction are required.

“There are many brave politicians while others are very much dependent on their vote bank politics,” the spiritual guru told the news channel.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court referred a petition to make homosexuality legal to a five-judge bench.

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will hear curative petitions seeking re-examination of its verdict criminalising sexual activity between same sex consenting adults under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

The news has come as a ray of hope for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The SC had earlier dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Centre and gay rights activists against its December 2013 verdict declaring gay sex an offence with punishment up to life imprisonment.