New Delhi:
The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear the issue of decriminalisation of gay sex among consenting adults.
The court will hear a bunch of petitions filed by gay rights activists and political, social and religious organisations who have opposed the Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising homosexual behaviour.
People and organisations from different field have come out in support of or against the path-breaking verdict, sparking a controversy. Several political, social and religious organisation have asked the Supreme Court to give the final verdict on the issue.
The Supreme Court had, in February this year, dismissed a petition to make armed forces a party to the petitions supporting and opposing the Delhi High Court's ruling.
The High Court had on July 2, 2009 declared the penal provision (under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code) for gay sex among consenting adults in private as unconstitutional which was earlier a criminal offence punishable with up to life imprisonment.
That ruling followed a Public Interest Litigation filed by NGO Naz Foundation along with the activist group voicing concerns against Section 377.
The Centre has not yet filed its response on this issue. The Supreme Court is likely to fix a date for final hearing.
(With PTI inputs)