SC to hear plea against gay sex

The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to consider in open court the curative petitions challenging the verdict re-criminalising homosexuality.

A four-judge bench presided by Chief Justice P Sathasivam directed for listing next week the bunch of petitions filed by gay rights activists, an NGO Naz Foundation and other persons including noted film director Shyam Benegal challenging the apex court’s verdict upholding the validity of Section 377 of IPC which makes gay sex an offence punishable up to life imprisonment.

The petitioners, including Naz Foundation LGBT community, contended that there was an error in the judgment delivered on December 11 last as it was based on old law.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, who appeared for the NGO, had on Monday urged the court to take into consideration the recent verdict by the apex court recognising transgenders as other category and directing the government to treat them as other backward class for granting reservation in job and education.

The apex court had earlier dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Centre and gay rights activists against its December 2013 verdict declaring gay sex an offence.