Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on pleas challenging verdict on gay sex

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ew Delhi, Aug 17 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on petitions seeking stay of a Delhi High Court verdict legalising gay sex.

Two petitions were filed Christian Apostolic Churches Alliance and S K Tijarawala, a disciple of Baba Ramdev.

The matter, which was heard by a bench, headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, will now come up for hearing on September 14.

The apex court asked the government to file its reply.

On July 20, the apex court had refused to stay the High Court''s judgement stating that it would wait for the Government to come forward with its response on the issue.

The apex court had asked the Central Government to file its response within eight weeks on the verdict of the Delhi High Court to decriminalise the homosexual behaviour of consensual adults, which was a crime as per Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Astrologer Manoj Kumar Kaushal, the apex court had refused to give stay to the Delhi High Court''s verdict.

On July 2, a two Judge bench of the Delhi High Court gave ruling to decriminalise the homosexual behaviour.

NAZ Foundation, and other NGOs had filed a petition questioning the criminalisation of homosexual behaviour under Sec 377 of IPC.

But the Centre told the court that there id no change in its stand taken before the Delhi High Court, but to consolidate the opinions of the various departments it need some time.

Attorney General, G.E. Vahanavati said the Government has not filed any affidavit as yet.

Meanwhile, the Union Government has remained non-committal about its stand on the High Court verdict which has been opposed by different sections of society, including religious leaders of all communities and a child rights body, gay rights activists have drawn up a detailed strategy to defend the verdict. (ANI)

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Omar Abdullah appeals to Centre to withdraw AFSPA from Kashmir

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ew Delhi, Aug 17 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday appealed to the Centre and all the political parties to take a pragmatic view on the lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) the state.

Speaking at the chief ministers conference on internal security here, Abdullah also pressed the Centre to withdraw the special anti terror laws imposed in the state.

Abdullah said that AFSPA played an important role in providing legal protection to the army and other paramilitary forces during the years when insurgency was at its peak in the state, but now it is time for shunning the extreme positions keeping the changed situation of the state in view.

"Even though this is a highly emotive issue which has provoked extreme positions, I would like to request that a pragmatic view about the continuation of the AFSPA be taken with a view to removing its applicability from those districts in the state where terrorist or insurgent activities are minimal or insignificant, " Abdullah said without naming the Defence Ministry and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who are advocating the continuation of the AFSPA in Kashmir.

Abdullah urged the Union Home Ministry to take adequate precautions while dealing with internal security, so that no one in society should feel alienated.

Abdullah asked the Union Government to look beyond its role of providing paramilitary forces to any state as a response to internal security as most problems have a political origin and, need a political strategy for a solution. (ANI)

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