Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervening the matter, which involves Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss in the conflict over so-called orthodoxy and liberalism, has asked them to sort out differences on the contentious issue of legalising homosexuality.
After the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibbal told reporters that Singh directed the two colleagues to sit together and get rid of differences on the Section 377 of the IPC that bans sexual relations between people of the same gender.
The cabinet has not taken any decision. The matter is pending before the Delhi High Court, Sibbal said. We are waiting for the court’s decision. We will abide by it whatever it comes, he added.
The Delhi High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO Naz India defying Section 377 of the IPC that bans homosexuality relations.
On the other hand, on behalf of the government the two ministries Patil’s Home and Ramadoss’s Health filed notification to the apex court presenting conflicting stand on Section 377; the former was against the legalisation of gay sex on moral grounds, the latter was in favour of decriminalizing gay sex contending it would help in treatment of people suffering from AIDS.
Expressing annoyance over the conflicting views, the apex court had asked the Centre to come with solitary stand. The Centre later cleared that it was against legalising of the gay sex and so favour continuation of Section 377 that bans such relations.
On Wednesday, the court took exception to the Centre for relying on religious texts to justify the prohibition on homosexuality and asked to come up with scientific reports.
Senior ministers questioned Ramadoss’s stand and defended the home ministry’s position at the meeting, sources said. Ramadoss did not attend the meeting, while Patil was not present when the issue came up.