Even as gay groups in Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai celebrated the government’s willingness to review a 150-year-old law that makes homosexuality an offence, Union Law Minister Verapppa Moily struck a note of caution.
“The Cabinet has mandated to have a re-look at the provision. But we
are not going to rush to any conclusion. We will take into account concerns of all sections, including religious groups like the Christian church,” the Press Trust of India quoted Moily as saying in Thiruvananthapuram.
A meeting of the Union Home, Health and Law Ministers would be held to have a re-look at Section 377 of IPC.
Moily, however, didn’t say when the meeting would be held. “This is a matter engaging a national debate. It is also before a court, which has favoured the government to have a look at it. While having a holistic look, it could lead to a repeal of the section. It may also mean not repealing a section,” he said.