Centre must file a review petition against gay ruling: Christian council

A Christian council representing North East Indians has demanded the UPA Government to file a review petition against the recent gay judgment by Delhi High Court.

North East India Christian Council (NEICC), a regional member of the National Council of Churches in India, shot off a letter to Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily, urging the ruling government to challenge the Delhi High Court's judgment last Thursday.

In a landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court on July2, legalised homosexuality by overturning a 149-year-old law that carried a 10-year prison sentence if convicted.

NEICC demands that the Centre file a review petition in the Delhi High Court or an appeal at the apex court challenging the ruling that has sparked off protests from faith based organisations.

The letter was dispatched following the executive meeting of the NEICC that consented to oppose the ruling of the Delhi High Court on Section 377 of IPC.

According to its secretary, Rev N.S. Pawa, the council will controvert even if the Parliament abolishes the law. "It is against the tenets of Christianity and such a law will never be accepeted," Pawa said.

Meanwhile, noted Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will be challenging the High Court judgment in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

"The decision of the High Court, if allowed to sustain will have catastrophic effects on the moral fabric of society and will jeopardise the institution of marriage itself. This offends the structure of Indian value system, Indian culture and traditions, as derived from religious scriptures," Ramdev said.

"Homosexual relationships, if encouraged, would bring population growth of a country to a halt and may deprive this country of its greatest asset of human resources," he added.