Gay sex ruling: Sonia Gandhi disappointed as government proposes amendment to homosexuality law

NEW DELHI: Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has express her disappointment with the Supreme Court decision on Wednesday to declare gay sex illegal.

The Supreme Court reversed a Delhi High Court verdict in 2009 that decriminalized homosexuality.

A ragtag of various Muslim, Christian and Hindu groups challenged the delhi High Court decision in the apex court which delivered its ruling on Wednesday.

The Congress president has expressed her happiness with the ruling and asked amendment to the archaic British-era Section 377 of the Constitution that bans gay rights and punishes those guilty with up to life term.

In a statement, Sonia Gandhi said, “I hope that parliament will address this issue and uphold the constitutional guarantee of life and liberty to all citizens including those directly affected by this judgment.’’

She said, “The (Delhi) high court had wisely removed an archaic, repressive and unjust law that infringed on the basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution.

“This Constitution has given us a great legacy, a legacy of liberalism and openness that enjoined us to combat prejudice and discrimination of any kind. We are proud that our culture has always been an inclusive and tolerant one. The Supreme Court also suggested another course.’’

Law minister Kapil Sibal also said that the government proposed to amend the Section in the Constitution that bans gay rights.

Sibal said, “We must decriminalize adult consensual relationship.’’