Page 398 - Social Issues
Government has no space in bedrooms: Tharoor
Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor on Thursday described the Supreme Court decision decriminalising homosexuality as a "dawn of freedom" as the "government has no space in bedrooms".
Experts welcome SC verdict decriminalising consensual gay sex
Senior advocates and jurists on Thursday welcomed the historic verdict of the Supreme Court decriminalising consensual gay sex between adults, saying everyone has the right to live a dignified life with equality. While former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee termed it as a "celebratory" judgment, senior advocate Anand Grover said the verdict will change the political course and human values. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani said the verdict has opened the door for complete equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community. Sorabjee said it is a celebratory judgment and if an individual has certain sexual preference, it is not a crime. "How can you make it a crime on a person of certain orientation," he asked and said that members of the LGBTQ community have the right to live a life with dignity. "If it is a same-sex act, it should be between consenting adults (age where the person knows the consequences of his actions) and in the privacy of home, not in ..
UN in India welcomes decriminalisation of gay sex by SC
The United Nations (UN) in India welcomed Thursday's landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of India that decriminalised gay sex.A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Rohinton Fali Nariman, A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra, issued the verdict on a bunch of petitions filed to scrap Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).The section, which dates back to British colonial era, criminalised sexual acts between lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and intersex (LGBTI) individuals and communities."The UN in India sincerely hopes that the court's ruling will be the first step towards guaranteeing the full range of fundamental rights to LGBTI persons. We also hope that the judgment will boost efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against LGBTI persons in all areas of social, economic, cultural and political activity, thereby ensuring a truly inclusive society," read the statement."The focus ...
SC order for decriminalising homosexuality momentous: Congress
Congress on Thursday described the Supreme Court's decision to decriminalise homosexuality as "momentous" saying it was an important step towards a liberal and tolerant society.
UN lauds SC verdict on homosexuality, hopes it will boost efforts to eliminate stigma
United Nations India Thursday lauded the Supreme Court for striking down a "key component" of IPC's Section 377 which criminalises "specific sexual acts between adults" and said the judgment will boost efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against LGBTI persons. It also hoped the ruling will be the first step towards guaranteeing the full range of fundamental rights to LGBTI persons. Sexual orientation and gender expression form an integral part of an individual's identity the world over, and violence, stigma and discrimination based on these attributes constitute an "egregious" violation of human rights. it said. "The United Nations in India welcomes the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of India striking down a key component of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalized specific sexual acts between adults, a law dating back to British colonial rule that has targeted in particular lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals and ...
Rail, road services hit in Bihar shutdown against SC/ST Act
Normal life in Bihar was affected on Thursday due to a nationwide shutdown called by dozens of upper caste groups to protest against the amended SC/ST Act, police said.
SC decriminalises homosexuality: B-Town hails 'historical judgment'
'Three cheers for the Supreme Court,' screamed Bollywood as the apex court on Thursday decriminalised homosexuality.A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Rohinton Fali Nariman, A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra, issued the verdict on a bunch of petitions filed to scrap the law. "Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible," observed the bench unanimously while delivering the verdict.Terming it as a "historical judgment", celebs took to social media to express their support and happiness.Giving the verdict a 'huge' thumbs up, ace filmmaker Karan Johar said, "Historical judgment!!!! So proud today! Decriminalising homosexuality and abolishing #Section377 is a huge thumbs up for humanity and equal rights! The country gets its oxygen back!"Here's what the others posted:Sonam Kapoor Ahuja This is the India I want to live in. Not one filled with hate, bigotry,sexism homophobia and ...
Malaysia PM denounces caning of women for lesbian sex
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday denounced the caning of two women convicted of having lesbian sex in violation of strict Islamic laws, after the punishment sparked a storm of criticism. The pair were caned in front of more than 100 spectators in an Islamic court Monday, with one of the women breaking down in tears, after they admitted breaching rules that forbid homosexual relations. The punishment in conservative northern Terengganu state marked the first time women have been caned for same-sex relations in Muslim-majority Malaysia, according to campaigners, and heightened fears about a worsening climate for the country's homosexuals. Mahathir added his voice to growing criticism, saying he had discussed the issue with his cabinet and they felt the caning "does not reflect justice and tolerance in Islam". "This gives a bad image of Islam and we believe that if there are similar cases like this we need to consider giving lighter punishments," he said. "It is ...
Malaysian PM condemns caning of two lesbians
Malyasian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday condemned the caning of two women charged by an Islamic court for having lesbian sex and said they should have been shown compassion.
SC decriminalises homosexuality, victory for gay rights
In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday decriminalised homosexuality between consenting adults by declaring Section 377, the penal provision which criminalised gay sex, as "manifestly arbitrary".
Consensual unnatural sex not a crime, Sec 377 violates right to equality: SC
A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises consensual unnatural sex, saying it violated the rights to equality. The constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra termed the part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises consensual unnatural sex as irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary. The bench, which also comprised Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra, struck down Section 377 of the IPC as being violative of the right to equality and the right to live with dignity. In four separate but concurring judgements, the top court set aside its 2013 verdict in the Suresh Kaushal case which had re-criminalised consensual unnatural sex. The bench said the other aspects of Section 377 of the IPC dealing with unnatural sex with animals and children remain in force. "Any kind of sexual ...
LGBTQ community celebrates 'historic' SC verdict on Section 377
Celebrations broke out Thursday as the LGBTQ community and others welcomed the Supreme Court judgment decriminalising consensual gay sex, asserting that the "historic" verdict granted them a basic human right but also acknowledging that complete equality was still some distance away. A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC, which criminalises consensual unnatural sex, prompting joyous tears, hugs and dancing across the country. Activists, members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) community, authors and politicians welcomed the verdict -- which also said society cannot dictate a sexual relationship between consenting adults -- with many cutting cakes and unfurling the rainbow flag. LGBTQ activist Anjali Nazia said the Supreme Court had paved way for bigger judgements ahead. "We were granted a basic human right today and we can't express just how happy we are," ...
LGBT leaders may boost company performance: Study
Organisations and businesses with one or more LGBT people in senior leadership positions report higher overall performance, a US study has found. Researchers from Marquette University in the US looked at whether or not businesses had people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in senior management roles and what impact that had on business outcomes. The study found that, of the companies which participated, 61 per cent had one or more LGBT persons in a top leadership position. By comparison, 48 per cent had one or more people of colour in a leadership role and 86 per cent had one or more women in a top leadership role, said Jennica Webster, an associate professor at Marquette University. "Having LGBT people in leadership positions, whether it as a CEO, a business owner, a part of senior management or on the Board of Directors, is good for a business' bottom line," said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which ...
SC decriminlaises gay sex
The Supreme Court on Thursday in a landmark decision decriminalised homosexuality by declaring Section 377, the penal provision which criminalised gay sex, as "manifestly arbitrary".
1 dead in Sri Lanka protests
One person died and over 80 were hospitalised as a massive protest rally held by the opposition ended in the Sri Lankan capital on Thursday, media reported.
MP elections: Tribal group throws hat in the ring
At a time when upper caste-OBC groups in Madhya Pradesh are protesting against the SC/ST Act, a tribal group has said it will contest the year-end assembly elections to form a tribal government in the state. Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) started as a group on Facebook in 2012. Six years on, it has around 15 lakh members in 10 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, Hiralal Alawa, the founder of JAYS, claimed. Alawa worked as a doctor at AIIMS in New Delhi till 2016. He then returned to Dhar district, his hometown, to "take the fight for the rights of tribal people to the next level". "We are uniting the tribal populations in 10 states where scheduled areas have been declared under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution," he said. "We are demanding proper implementation of the Fifth Schedule and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and that the benefits of the Forest Act be extended to tribal people," Alawa said. The Fifth Schedule
Rural areas want far-right to 'Make Sweden Great Again'
Nestled deep in Sweden's mining country, Lindesberg has an old-time small-town charm: its imposing Lutheran church overlooks cobblestone streets with locals calmly strolling about on their daily errands. There are no telling signs that this is one of strongest bastions of the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), an anti-immigration party with roots in the neo-Nazi movement. The few people out on a rainy day in late August, of various ages and origins, stop to exchange pleasantries, with just days to go before the country's September 9 local and legislative elections. SD, founded in 1988, is tipped to win about 20 percent of votes nationwide, according to an average of seven polling institutes published in the past 10 days. That would make it Sweden's second or third biggest party. Two hours northwest of Stockholm by car, Lindesberg seems a world away from the disadvantaged suburbs of Sweden's big cities -- and the associated debate on immigration. Figures provided by municipal authorities
Women need to be awakened to stop crime against them: Kangana
In order to spread awareness on the rising crimes against women, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut said that they need to be awakened because it is the need of the hour.She said, said that women should be encouraged to speak out "if they felt something" wrong is happening to them.Stressing on the importance of empowering women, she said, "In India, a woman's upbringing is different from her brother's and that is the reason when something wrong happens with her, she thinks it is normal and doesn't protest.""Therefore, the most important thing these days is to awaken women", the actress added.Sexual crimes against young girls and women are on a rise in India. The biggest problem lies with the length of the trials as sometimes courts take five to 10 years to reach a judgment.The 'Queen' actress gave out the clarion call while speaking at the 'Xin Philanthropy Conference' held in New Delhi on September 5.
Vasundhara Raje betrayed people of Rajasthan: Pilot
The Congress on Wednesday accused Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of "betraying" the people of the state by not fulfilling the promises she made during the last Assembly polls. PCC president Sachin Pilot said the people have made up their mind to vote against the BJP in the next Assembly polls. "She did not take care of the people in four and a half years and now she is taking out yatra and misusing public money. The response to her yatra is poor and the public is showing no interest. The government has lost faith and trust of the people. They were betrayed," Pilot said. Addressing 'Sankalp rally' in Pachpadra area here, he said large number of farmers committed suicide because the state government paid no attention to their issues. AICC general secretary and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot exuded confidence that the Congress will form next government in the state. He said the residents of Marwar region have always supported the Congress.
Allahabad HC orders govt to take security measures for shelter homes
The Allahabad High Court Wednesday ordered the state government to provide for basic security infrastructure, including installation of CCTV cameras at shelter homes across the state, for safety of their inmates. Chief Justice DB Bhosale and Justice Yashwant Varma ordered to take basic safety measures, dismissing the Women Welfare Department's contention that the government cannot install CCTV cameras at shelter homes for want of funds. How can the government say it cannot comply with the statutory guidelines for protection of children in shelter homes because of lack of funds? the bench shot back at the counsel on his submission. The bench ordered the government to prepare a time line for taking various steps for safety and security of the inmates at shelter homes and apprise it of the time frame by the next date of hearing. In an affidavit to the court, Additional Advocate General Manish Goel, meanwhile, said disciplinary actions have been initiated against 35 police officers, who ..
