Supreme Court to hear legalisation on gay rights

New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): The Supreme Court will today hear the issue of decriminalisation of gay sex among consenting adults in private.

A bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly would be hearing a bunch of petitions filed by gay rights activists and political, social and religious organisations who have opposed the Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising homosexual behaviour.

Several political, social and religious organisation have asked the Supreme Court to give the final verdict on the issue.

The High Court had on July 2, 2009 declared the penal provision (under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code) for gay sex among consenting adults in private as unconstitutional which was earlier a criminal offence punishable with up to life imprisonment.

The apex court had declined to stay the verdict and had said, "Any interim order against the High Court verdict, if necessary, will be considered only after hearing the parties concerned". (ANI)