With Supreme Court again refusing to stay High Court order, gay community across the country will now again keep on enjoying their new found identity at least till September 14, when the matter will again come up for hearing
THERE IS again a good news for gays across the country, the Supreme Court of India has again refused to stay the unprecedented landmark judgment of Delhi Court that was delivered on July 2. In its judgment, the Delhi Court had decriminalised the sex between two consenting same sex individuals.
The landmark judgment was against the controversial Article 377 that had provisions for imprisonment of person/persons found indulging in same sex. It was welcomed with both hands by homosexual community and other handful of supporters of gay rights like Celina Jaitley, Anjali Gopalan and Rohit Bal. But it also attracted fury of various political and religious groups.
Political figures like Murli Manohar Joshi, Acharay Giriraj Kishore and Amar Singh showed their ire openly against the controversial verdict. World renowned Baba Ramdev even filed a petition challenging the historical verdict of the Delhi High Court. Other higher bodies of Sikh, Muslim and Christians also expressed their anger against the verdict.
The Supreme Court while hearing a petition said on Monday (June 20) that there is no threat as such of any penal consequences. It further added that it is waiting for the Central government to file their stand on the issue.
The matter will again come up for hearing on September 14, as government has asked for some more time to present its stand on the contentious issue. The bench comprising Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam said, “We are not for stay as there is no threat of any consequences. We will hear the government, what is their stand.”
With Supreme Court again refusing to stay High Court order, gay community across the country will now again keep on enjoying their new found identity at least till September 14, when the matter will again come up for hearing.