VHP demonstration against decriminalising homosexuality

Bhopal, July 21 (ANI): Activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) here on Monday launched a poster campaign against a recent court verdict decriminalising homosexuality.

Activists pasted about 5,000 posters, condemning homosexuality, on bus-stops, markets, vehicles and other crowded places across the city.

"We strongly oppose homosexuality and we consider this as human deformity. Only a mad person can order legalising it. We want to know what is the government's stand on this issue," said Vijay Pal Singh, a VHP activist.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Government to file its response within eight weeks on the verdict of the Delhi High Court to decriminalise the homosexual behaviour of consensual adults, which was a crime as per Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Astrologer Manoj Kumar Kaushal, the apex court refused to give stay to the Delhi High Court's verdict. The Court also asked the centre to speed up the response.

On July 2, a two Judge bench of the Delhi High Court gave ruling to decriminalise the homosexual behaviour.

NAZ Foundation, and other NGOs had filed a petition questioning the criminalisation of homosexual behaviour under Sec 377 of IPC.

But the Centre told the court that there id no change in its stand taken before the Delhi High Court, but to consolidate the opinions of the various departments it need some time. (ANI)