Centre to hold meet on repealing IPC section on homosexuality

The Centre is likely to convene a meeting soon to evolve a consensus on repealing a controversial section of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises homosexuality.

The Centre is likely to convene a meeting soon to evolve a consensus on repealing a controversial section of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises homosexuality.

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The meeting, to be chaired by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will discuss section 377 IPC, which bans sexual relationships among people of the same gender, official sources said.

Chidambaram and Law Minister Veerappa Moily are understood to be in favour of repealing the provision of the IPC, while response of Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was awaited.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked the ministries of home and health to resolve the differences over the issues and give a comprehensive response to the Delhi High Court, which is hearing a petition challenging arrests under the law.

Former Home Minister Shivraj Patil and former Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had taken divergent stand on the issue before the court.

Terming the matter as "serious", the High Court had directed the government to sort out the matter at the earliest.