Homosexuality: Govt yet to formulate any final view, Venkaiah

Amid a raging debate on decriminalisation of sexual activity between same sex consenting adults, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said it was a "humane issue" and the government had not formulated any view on the matter.

"It is a humane issue, we have to study various aspects and take a final view. The debate is on...," he told reporters in response to a question.

He said, "The government has, to my knowledge, not formulated any final view, but it is now before the court, let us await what is going to happen..."

Asked about his personal view, he said, "I have no  personal view, because as a minister people should not talk  about personal view."

The apex court today referred to a five-judge Constitution Bench the curative plea seeking re-examination of its verdict criminalising homosexuality under section 377 IPC.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A R Dave and J S Khehar said that since important issues concerning the Constitution were involved in the matter, it would be appropriate to refer the issue to a  five-judge Constitution bench. The court said the larger bench would be constituted in the future.