Amendment to Police Act not welcome in Karnataka

Even as the city readies to celebrate the second anniversary of the landmark judgement of the Delhi high court decriminalising homosexuality, a minority group is fighting discrimination in the name of the Karnataka Police Act amendment, which seeks to re-introduce provisions that allow the police to monitor eunuchs and prevent them from engaging in ‘unnatural offences’.

On Friday, a gathering at Town Hall of sexual minority groups protested the amendment to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, which was carried out in April this year.

CS Dwaraknath, ex-chairperson, Backward Class Commission, said, “On one hand, the amendments to the Act will violate the rights of sexual minorities. On the other, the move could help marginalised groups gain greater access to social security and gain entitlements.

” Members of many political parties rallied to the cause of the sexual minorities. Manjula Naidu, president, Karnataka Mahila Congress, said  “Until the government provides social security like employment and education, the community cannot hope to live with respect.”

Ramesh Babu, secretary, JD(S) demanded that the government provide social entitlements that were earlier promised by minister Shobha Karandlaje.

Veena, a human rights activist and hijra representative, said, “We strongly oppose the vague language and certain provisions of the Act. These provide broad powers that violate the rights of hijras.”