Malegaon: Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan on Friday said that the general opinion in the country is in favour of legalising homosexuality and against criminalising consensual sex between adults of the same gender.
[Photo Caption: Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan with other dignitaries taking a round of the All India Urdu Book Fair organised by the NCPUL in Malegaon on January 03, 2014 ( Photo: Zohair M Safwan/ummid.com)]
"I am not talking of morality or immorality. But, there is a widespread consensus in the country against criminalising consensual sex between adults of the same gender", K Rahman Khan said while addressing the press in Malegaon.
K Rahman Khan was in Malegaon Friday to inaugurate the ten-day All India Urdu Bok Fair of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL). His statement came in response to a query by ummid.com about Congress high command statement on a recent Supreme Court ruling on Article 377.
He however ruled out if the government is considering an ordinance to reverse the SC verdict.
The Supreme Court on December 11 held consensual sex between adults of the same gender an offence, leaving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community dejected.
Setting aside the Delhi High Court verdict of 2009, the apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhayay said there was no constitutional room for change in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
Section 377 of the IPC holds that same-gender sexual relationship is against the order of the nature and is an offence. The apex couyrt by its ruling Wednesday upheld the constitutional validity of the section.
The Delhi High Court by its verdict, which the apex court has now set aside, had decriminalised the sexual relationship between consenting adults of the same gender under Section 377.
Top Congress leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, came out strongly against the Supreme Court judgment upholding the Article 377. It was also reported that the government was contemplating an ordinance to reverse the verdict.
Following the SC verdict, a debate in its favour and against started in India. While the groups working for the LBT community expressed concern over the SC verdict, a strong voice led by different religious groups hailed it.
The government meanwhile on December 20 filed a review petition on the Supreme Court judgment.
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