Women's commission seeks nationwide debate on legalising gay sex

The National Commission for Women (NCW) Saturday called for a nationwide debate on the Delhi High Court's landmark ruling that decriminalised gay sex in the country.

It is a very complex issue and needs to be studied in detail, NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas told reporters here.

Before taking any decision, we need to have a nationwide debate on this. Even the government is in favour of a debate on this issue before taking any decision, Vyas said.

What effect will it have on society and families at large? All these aspects need to be looked at before a decision is taken on it, she added.

In its 105-page judgement Thursday, the Delhi High Court ruled that gay sex among consenting adults was no crime.

The court struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a relic of the British Raj, which criminalises gay sex terming it an "unnatural offence".

The government is treading cautiously on the matter. On Friday, three cabinet ministers - Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad - held a meeting to discuss the issue.

Moily later told reporters that they would submit a report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who would take a final decision on whether to amend the archaic law dealing with the issue.

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( 235 Words)

2009-07-04-15:49:32 (IANS)

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