NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's move to order re-examination of its verdict criminalising sexual activity between same sex consenting adults under section 377 of IPC was widely welcomed by activists today as "hope of upholding the democracy" in the country.
"I am happy that the court has referred the matter to a five-judge bench. Now, the court is going to look at the constitutional arguments to decriminalise homosexuality, hopes have been raised that if the petition has been accepted that means they see some merit in it. Let's hope this is the last leg of the fight," said LBGT activist and Naz Foundation Director Anjali Gopalan.
Welcoming the order, transgender rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, said, "actually the court could have struck it down and asked the government to react on it to assert that democracy prevails in the country and the right of expression, right to life and dignity is still there. But it is interesting how the matter has been referred to a five-judge bench".
The apex court today referred the curative plea seeking re-examination of its verdict criminalising homosexuality under section 377 IPC, to a 5-judge Constitution Bench.
The court was hearing the curative petition filed by gay rights activists and NGO Naz Foundation against the apex court's December 11, 2013 judgement upholding validity of section 377 (unnatural sexual offences) of IPC and the January 2014 order by which it had dismissed a batch of review petitions.
A curative petition is the last judicial resort available for redressal of grievances in court which is normally decided by judges in-chamber. In rare cases, such petitions are given an open court hearing.