Cabinet puts off discussion on gay ruling

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday deferred a decision on the suggestion of a three-member ministerial group which went into the Delhi High
Court order decriminalising homosexuality among consenting adults.

The home minister (P Chidambaram) was not present so it was not discussed, information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said when asked whether the Cabinet discussed the ministerial teams report which is understood to have recommended not to contest the HC judgment.

Asked how the government proposed to go ahead in the matter which is coming up for hearing before the Supreme Court on Monday, Soni said, The law ministry will look into it. The Cabinet note is understood to have said that the three ministries home, health and law have agreed to the document circulated by the law ministry suggesting that the HC judgment should not be opposed in the Supreme Court. The matter would be left to the apex court to decide as it was hearing several petitions including those by religious groups.

Before finalising the note for the Cabinet, home minister Chidambaram, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and law minister M Veerappa Moily had held a series of meetings to arrive at a conclusion on the issue.

The SC had on August 17 sought a response from the government on petitions filed by a Christian body and a disciple of yoga guru Ramdev seeking a stay on the Delhi HC verdict on the ground that it will have a catastrophic effect on societys moral fabric.

Source:: TimesOfIndia