NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the central government’s views on a petition filed by LGBT rights activist Keshav Suri to scrap Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises all homosexual behaviour.“The government is yet to place its views in court on this,” senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, assisted by lawyer Shally Bhasin, argued. On his insistence, a three judge bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued notices on the plea to the centre.The government has so far been reluctant to take a firm position on the case -- either before the Delhi High Court or the Supreme Court. In high court, home ministry and health ministry had taken contrary stands in the first round of litigation.The home ministry had insisted that Section 377 be retained to deal with cases of unnatural acts carried out against children and bestiality against animals. Even though the then attorney general had said that the high court judgement was fine.The apex court had explained that it was not the court’s job to deal with evolving moral mores. A five-judge bench will hear it in an open court.

Source: Economic Times April 23, 2018 18:11 UTC