Justice GS Singhvi refused to answer NDTV's queries and was insistent that his judgement be read first
Justice GS Singhvi, who headed the Supreme Court bench that restored a ban on gay sex, told NDTV today, "To all those criticizing my judgement on homosexuality, I'll say read my judgement first."
(Read the entire Supreme Court judgement here)He retired today after delivering a verdict that has been described as a huge setback for human rights in the world's largest democracy. (
Verdict on homosexuality against basic human rights? Vote here)
"There is a barbarism in treating choices of consenting adults as a crime. I wasn't a criminal yesterday. Today I am. I intend to continue being a criminal," said author Vikram Seth.
The two-judge bench of the Supreme Court today struck down a landmark Delhi High Court ruling in 2009 which found that section 377 of the Indian Penal Code prohibiting "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" infringed the fundamental rights of Indians. (
Supreme Court verdict talks of "so-called rights" of LGBT: excerpts)
But the Supreme Court verdict, delivered on Justice Singhvi's last day before retirement, found that the High Court had overstepped and that a law originally passed by the British in 1860 was constitutionally valid.
"It is up to Parliament to legislate on this issue," Justice Singhvi said.