Govt Diversifies Risks, Decision on Gay Sex
Diversifying Risks: the Union Government on Thursday shied away from taking any stand on gay sex, virtually leaving it for the Supreme Court to decide the “correctness” of the Delhi High Court order decriminalising homosexuality.
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, decided to play its cards close to its chest after reservations were expressed over the political impact of legalising gay sex, which has faced stringent opposition from religious groups – especially the Muslim and christian minorities.
The final word on article 377 will now be delivered by the Supreme Court, which hears the case on October 1.
Addressing the media after coming out of the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said that the Cabinet considered the report of the three-member Group of Ministers and decided that Attorney General of India Goolam E Vahanvati will “assist” the Supreme Court in the case.
“The Cabinet decided to ask the Attorney General to assist the Supreme Court in every way desired by it in arriving at an opinion on the correctness of the judgment of the High Court,” she said.
The governmental in-decision, by default, has sent ripples through the gay community as activists expressed relief that the government had not decided to oppose the High Court order.
The Delhi High Court, some two months ago, passed an order legalising sex between consenting gay partners, such acts were earlier considered a crime under provisions of Section 377 of the IPC.
Hearing a petition filed against the Delhi High Court order, the Supreme Court had sought the government’s response by October 1.
