[Reader-list] High Court to Abolish Section 377 IPC (Anti-Sodomy) ?

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*Congratulations to the Gay Activists and their supporters on this forum. *

India court overturns ban on gay sex*Reuters*

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - An Indian court Thursday ruled gay sex was not a
crime, a verdict that will bolster demands by gay and health groups that the
government scrap a British colonial law which bans homosexual sex.*Link* -
http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE5611VE20090702


On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 12:04 AM, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>wrote:

> Lord Macaulay wouldn't be smiling in his grave if this comes true.
>
> For Sarai list members - A rumour doing the rounds all day in media
> suggests that the High Court may abolish or at least pass a strong verdict
> against the Section 377 IPC.
>
> Some experts however say it wouldn't be that easy and the case might be
> immediately transferred to the Supreme Court.
>
> Hope this is helpful.
>
> thanks
> Aditya Raj Kaul
>
> *More from IANS*
>
> The verdict will be the first to be delivered by an Indian court on a 19th
> century law that treats homosexual activity as a criminal offence.
>
> The petitioners, including voluntary organisation Naz Foundation, pleaded
> that the criminal provision against homosexual behaviour should be scrapped
> for consenting adults who indulge in such acts in private.
>
> The petition said that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is
> violative of their fundamental right.
>
> Section 377 of the IPC says an individual who “voluntarily has carnal
> intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal” shall
> be imprisoned for life or for a term exceeding 10 years and be liable to pay
> a fine.
>
> During the course of the proceedings, the health ministry and the home
> ministry, respondents to the petition, were divided in their opinion, with
> the health ministry’s affidavit supporting the petitioners and the home
> ministry opposing decriminalization of same-sex activity saying such
> behaviour was immoral and could not be allowed in Indian society.
>
>


-- 
Aditya Raj Kaul

Freelance Correspondent, The Times of India
Cell -  +91-9873297834

Blog: http://activistsdiary.blogspot.com/