NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court pulled up the Centre on Tuesday for its ‘casual approach’ on the important issue of decriminalisation of homosexuality.
A Bench, comprising Justice G S Singhvi and Justice J Mukhopadyay, briefly perused the affidavits filed by the government and remarked that it was very clear that the Centre had taken this issue very casually. “This practice needs to be condemned and we are going to say it in our judgment,” the Bench said.
“It is a peculiar case in which the government is taking a neutral stand before the apex court on an important issue after contesting the matter in the Delhi High Court.”
“The government comes with the stand that they are neutral. Which one is to be accepted? The affidavits filed in the High Court or its stand of neutrality in the apex court?” the Bench questioned. The Bench also pointed out that during the last 60 years, the Parliament had not considered amending Section 377 of the IPC though there were recommendations for the same by the Law Commission.
“The highest legislature does not have time to consider these issues. How long will the people of this country have to wait for the legislature to find time to consider these issues?” the Bench further questioned.