Supreme Court to hear legalisation on gay rights

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The Supreme Court will on Tuesday take up the issue of decriminalising gay sex among consenting adults in private.

A bench headed by Justice G.S. Singhvi would be hearing petitions filed by gay rights activists and political, social and religious organisations who have opposed the Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising homosexual behaviour.

At the last hearing on February 7, the bench had refused to implead the armed forces in the case on the contentious issue.

Several political, social and religious organisation have asked the Supreme Court to give the final verdict on the issue.

The High Court had on July 2, 2009 declared the penal provision (under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code) for gay sex among consenting adults in private as unconstitutional which was earlier a criminal offence punishable with up to life imprisonment.

The apex court had declined to stay the verdict and had said, "Any interim order against the High Court verdict, if necessary, will be considered only after hearing the parties concerned".