Section 377: Supreme Court reserves verdict on Homosexuality

The Supreme Court reserved its verdict about the controversial section 377 of the Indian Panel Code (IPC) which refers homosexuality as punishable offence. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked all the supporters and opponents of the section to submit their views in black and white by Friday.

A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra including Justices R.F. Nariman, A.M. Kanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra had decided to reserve the verdict last Thursday as well as to hear the interveners on its next hearing, that is today.

Last Wednesday the Central government had left it to the Supreme Court to decide the validity of the controversial section 377 following which the Supreme Court showed a strong indication towards scrapping the section 377 that criminalizes homosexuality.

Furthermore, the apex court said that the social stigma and discrimination related to LGBTQ community can be eradicated only with the removal of criminality of consensual gay sex.