No screening provision leaves states confused

A provision in the Right To Education Bill that bans schools from holding any kind of screening for admissions has landed the government in a tight spot. Swaha Sahoo reports.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to respond to petitions filed by a disciple of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and a Christian body challenging a Delhi High Court verdict legalising homosexuality between consenting adults.

HT Image

Contending that it will have a catastrophic effect on the society’s “moral fabric”, Christian Apostolic Churches Alliance — an umbrella of 22 churches in Delhi — and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s disciple S.K. Tijarawala wanted the apex court to stay the high court’s order.

But a bench headed by Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan did not oblige them.

The bench said the two petitions should be clubbed with other petitions on the issue, which were likely to be heard on September 14.

The court asked petitioners to explain the adverse consequences they apprehended. “What consequences are you talking about?” it asked.

The Christian body’s counsel said: “… it will lead to coming up of brothels for male prostitution and gay parlours.”
“But prostitution is defined under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,” the bench shot back.