Kerala Bishops plead govt to not legalise homosexuality

"We will send a lakh cards to the Prime Minister and President requesting not to legalise homosexuality," says Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), which reiterated its opposition to the Delhi HC ruling that decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults.

Stating that the move would lead to far-reaching implications, KCBC deputy secretary Stephen Alathara told reporters that it wanted the Centre to pull back from its stance in legalising homosexuality.

The council announced that it would send its representatives for their participation in the satyagraha to be held at the capital to protest against the Delhi HC ruling.

Last week, causing much disappointment to leaders of faith based organisations, law minister Veerappa Moily praised the Delhi HC order and said it was "well-documented and well-argued".

Leaving no doubt that the government wants to legalise homosexuality, Moily said, "this is one judgement, which has really stood out in the judicial annals of this country."

Expressing his views in an interview with a news channel, the law minister stated that if the apex court upholds the high court ruling, then the government might only amend section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to make it a law.

Moily also conceded that Section 377 had been misused in the past and could be misused in future as well. "Any law should not be used as an instrument of exploitation, harassment or allow the authority to misuse it. Section 377 is one such provision that has a tendency of misuse and exploitation and it has been misused," he said.