New Delhi: Thursday could be another D-Day as the Delhi High Court could decide on whether being gay should still be illegal and a gay be arrested because of a law that is almost 150 years old. And Chidambaram's opinion as man in-charge of country's law and order could be critical.
"We are taking a fresh look at it, we will bring new thinking to it. We may go back to the old position, but that doesn't mean we cannot bring new thinking to it," the Home Minister said.
The government is in a bind on whether or not to scrap Section 377, which makes homosexuality a crime. The PM has asked the ministries of Law, Home and Health to arrive at a consensus, but there is still no clarity on what the government stand is.
"I will not answer that question. Please don't try and get a response on this," Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
Recently the government had hinted that it is reviewing the law, giving hope to gay rights activists. But opposition from various groups against legalising homosexuality has forced the government to tread carefully.
"Earlier, the Home Ministry was negative about Section 377. Now there seems to be a change," said Sunil Gupta, a gay rights activist.
As the court gets set to deliver its verdict, the big question is -- if in fact a rethink of the law is on the cards?