SC dismisses plea to hear armed forces on homosexuality

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea to make armed forces a party to the petitions supporting and opposing the Delhi High Court's ruling which decriminalised homosexual acts between two consenting adults in private.

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea to make armed forces a party to the petitions supporting and opposing the Delhi High Court's ruling which decriminalised homosexual acts between two consenting adults in private.

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A bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi dismissed the plea made by one Suresh Kumar Kaushal, who submitted that the defence forces should be made a party to the matter in view of the fact that the Defence Forces Act renders homosexual behaviour as illegal.

The petitioner also submitted that the army chief had said that no armed force in the world has legalised homosexuality and that it is illegal under the Army Act and the Air Force Act.

He contended that the armed forces be impleaded in the case as their stand is contrary to the judgement of the Delhi High Court, which had decriminalised gay sex among consenting adults in private.

The apex court, however, was not convinced and dismissed his application.