By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Friday reserved its order on petitions filed by gay rights activists seeking de-criminalisation of homosexual relations among consenting adults in private.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar asked the government and anti-gay rights activists, including senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B.P. Singhal, to file their response by Nov 10.
The petitioners, including voluntary organisation Naz foundation, pleaded that the criminal provision against homosexual behaviour should be scrapped for consenting adults who indulge in such acts in private.
They contended that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which provides punishment up to life imprisonment is violative of their fundamental right.
The government, however, opposed the petition, saying that such behaviour is immoral and cannot be allowed in Indian society.