In a landmark move, Congress member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor is all set to introduce in the Lok Sabha this Friday a private member's bill to decriminalise homosexuality.
According to a report in the Mint, Tharoor seeks to amend Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalises homosexuality. The current law criminalises all non-penile-vaginal sexual intercourse.
A 'private member's bill' is a legislative bill that is introduced by an MP and is not part of a government's planned legislation.
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Tharoor's move comes right after finance minister Arun Jaitley called for reconsideration of the Supreme Court ruling on Section 377. Speaking at an event Jaitley had said in November that SC's view was not in sync with "the jurisprudential development on gay rights world over" and added that the apex court should review its 2013 judgment as far as gay relationships are concerned.
The LGBT community says that the Section 377 is often misused to coerce, harass and blackmail people. In fact, according to the data collected by India HIV/AIDS Alliance, from 200 community-based organisations, it was found out that from January to November 2014, over 800 cases of violence against transgender persons, eunuchs, and homosexuals were recorded in 17 states, reported Mint.
According to TOI, Tharoor also plans to table a couple of more bills -- IPC Sec 124A that deals with sedition, and the National Refugee and Asylum Bill -- saying that they were "loosely drafted".
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According to a report in the Mint, Tharoor seeks to amend Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalises homosexuality. The current law criminalises all non-penile-vaginal sexual intercourse.
A 'private member's bill' is a legislative bill that is introduced by an MP and is not part of a government's planned legislation.
Tharoor's move comes right after finance minister Arun Jaitley called for reconsideration of the Supreme Court ruling on Section 377. Speaking at an event Jaitley had said in November that SC's view was not in sync with "the jurisprudential development on gay rights world over" and added that the apex court should review its 2013 judgment as far as gay relationships are concerned.
The LGBT community says that the Section 377 is often misused to coerce, harass and blackmail people. In fact, according to the data collected by India HIV/AIDS Alliance, from 200 community-based organisations, it was found out that from January to November 2014, over 800 cases of violence against transgender persons, eunuchs, and homosexuals were recorded in 17 states, reported Mint.
According to TOI, Tharoor also plans to table a couple of more bills -- IPC Sec 124A that deals with sedition, and the National Refugee and Asylum Bill -- saying that they were "loosely drafted".
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