Gay sex verdict: Muslim board moves Supreme Court

Giving a secular touch to the issue, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board joined Hindu outfits and leaders on Monday in challenging the Delhi high court’s verdict allowing consensual sex between adult gay or lesbian couples.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, astrologer Suresh Kaushal and BP Singhal, a BJP MP, have already moved the Supreme Court (SC) against the judgment. The Muslim body’s petition says, “Decriminalising homosexuality poses a threat to Indian society and culture.” Ramdev pleads, “Legalising gay sex would have a catastrophic effect on society’s moral fabric,” while Kaushal says, “Even animals don’t indulge in such sexual acts that are in conflict with the nature.”

SC has already issued notices on the pending petitions and the government has said it would not oppose the law laid down by HC. Law minister M Veerappa Moily said, “If it [section 377 IPC] has been misused earlier, it can be misused in future as well. Any law should not be used as an instrument of exploitation, harassment or allow the authority to misuse it. This is one such provision that has a tendency of misuse, and has been misused.

“I must tell the judges, the subject may be difficult, but at the same time, this is one judgment which has really stood out in the judicial annals of this country.”

Attorney general Goolam E Vahanvati will assist the apex court in examining the HC judgment that held that “criminalisation of gay sex among consenting adults violated fundamental rights”.