Govt not to oppose HC gay ruling

NEW DELHI: As expected, the Centre on Thursday decided against opposing the Delhi High Court decriminalising consensual gay sex. The Cabinet, which deliberated on the report of a ministerial group on the HC order left it to the Supreme Court to take a call on the ���correctness��� of the judgement.

The Cabinet also directed attorney general G E Vahanvati to ���assist��� the Supreme Court for firming up an opinion on the issue. ���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 judgement of the High Court,��� information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni told reporters.

There was consensus in the ministerial panel that the Delhi HC���s interpretation of Article 377 was ���balanced and well argued���. The order had taken consensual gay sex out of its purview while continuing to recognise sodomy and unconsenting sexual acts as crime. The matter is due for hearing in the Supreme Court on October 1.

If the apex court upholds the Delhi HC judgement, the Centre can amend Section 377 of the IPC to remove the inherent ambiguities and bring it in line with the observations of the high court.

Religious groups and social organisations that have challenged the High Court verdict are expected to present their views in the Supreme Court later this month.

The HC ruling was hailed by gay activists as a milestone in their struggle for equal rights.