Nothing unusual in holding gay rally: HC
Press Trust of India
Saturday, July 05, 2008, (New Delhi)
Gay activists who recently marched in the Capital demanding decriminalisation of homosexual acts among consenting adults today got a shot in the arm with the Delhi High Court finding nothing "unusual" in holding such a rally.
"Such marches are held all over the world. Recently in London more that five lakh people were on the streets for the cause. There is nothing unusual in holding such rallies," Justice A K Sikri said, dismissing objections raised by anti-gay rights activists, including RSS idealogue B P Singhal, over the June 29 rally.
"If people think that they are doing something wrong, then police is there to take action against them," the court said.
The Bench was hearing a petition filed by NGO Naz Foundation seeking the court's direction to declare Section 377 of IPC, which provides punishment upto life sentence for indulging in homosexual acts, as "unconstitutional" as it violated a citizen's fundamental right and promoted illegal sex.
The anti-gay right activists are a party in the case as they have been opposing the Foundation's plea in court.
The petitioner pleaded that the matter be heard on a priority as it had been pending in the court for the last three years.
"People (homosexuals) are being increasingly victimised by the society. Time is a crucial factor in the case and we want this matter to be heard on day-to-day basis," advocate Anil Grover, appearing for the NGO, contended.
Accepting the contention, the court agreed to hear the matter daily and listed the matter for hearing on July 21. The bench allowed the petitioner and the Centre to approach the Chief Justice before July 21 for any further clarification.