Shashi Tharoor's Bill To Decriminalise Gay Sex Defeated In Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI -- In stinging disregard to a fairly disillusioned LGBT community in India, the Lok Sabha voted (71-24) against introducing a bill to decriminalise gay sex in the country.

Earlier today, Congress Party leader Shashi Tharoor tried to introduce a private bill to strike down S.377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

In 2013, Supreme Court overturned an earlier Delhi High Court decision that struck down S. 377 as unconstitutional. The apex court said only the Indian parliament could change the colonial-era statute.

After the bill was rejected, Tharoor tweeted that he would try again.

“Surprising to see such intolerance,” he said. "There's no statute of limitations on doing the right thing. We should keep the Govt out of people's bedrooms."

1/2 Intro of Pvt.Member's Bill2decriminalize consensual sex btwn consenting adults defeated in LS 71-24. Surprising to see such intolerance.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015

2/2 Notice of intent to oppose introducn of Bill came so late there was no time 2rally support. Will try again in future. We shall overcome!

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015

S.377: Unnatural offence - Whoever voluntarily has carnal inter­course against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with impris­onment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation.—Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.

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