Govt considering all options to decriminalise homosexuality

We must decriminalise adult consensual relationships, says Kapil Sibal

With the Supreme Court order on gay sex creating a major uproar, the government today said it is considering all options to decriminalise homosexuality and filing a curative petition in the apex court could be one of them.

"The Government is considering all options to restore the (Delhi) High Court verdict on (Section) 377 (of IPC). We must decriminalise adult consensual relationships," Law Minister Kapil Sibal said.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the Supreme Court ruling was "wrong" and all options would be looked at to set right the Supreme Court order.

Terming the judgement "disappointing", he said the court should have applied "current social and moral values" in the case.

He said the government should file a review or curative petition and that the matter should be heard by a five-bench judge.

Chidambaram, the former Home Minister, said the Delhi High Court judgement was a "well-researched one" which the Union government accepted and did not challenge in the Supreme Court.

He added that the government's decision of not opposing the High Court judgement in the Supreme Court was also his party's view.

Chidambaram noted that the bench that gave the order, should have referred the matter to a five-judge bench and that the interpretation of law cannot be static.