HOMOSEXUALITY IN INDIA

Article 377 of the Indian constitution says Homosexuality is a punishable offence. In fact each and every unnatural sexual relationship is regarded as an offence. This law was enacted by Lord Makel on 1850. According to this, the law doesn’t justify the person and there manners who are involved in such licentious act. Such acts are not ephemera for homosexuals, they enjoy it for their lifetime. So, in the post-independent period these people demanded to abolish this act. Many influential individuals, human rights activists demanded to legalise the right of Homosexuals by amending the constitution.

On the other hand many conservative and religious groups are strongly critcising this issue. While the government was saying that, the decision will be taken only after a general consensus from all segments of the society, Delhi High Court on Thursday gave it’s so called historical verdict saying “Mutually agreed gay sex in between adults is legal”.

Homosexuals are considering this verdict as a huge victory. So, now it’s time to see that the government or any other society is challenging this verdict in the apex court or not.

I personally think this system will affect the cultural ethos and values of Indian society where sex is still a very vulnerable issue.

According to government estimates, there are about 25 lakh gays and 1 lakh lesbians in the country. The highest concentration of homosexual men in India is in four major states — Maharashtra (48,000), Tamil Nadu (30,000), Delhi (28,000) and Gujarat (26,000). However, only 70% of the MSMs have identified themselves and are involved with NACO’s intervention programmes. Officials in NACO said that about 30% of them are still not covered.

Every coin has two sides. Theoretically we can say that it could harm our society ,but analyzing it practically and specially me being associated with NACO and health and family welfare department , I think these third sexual groups or (Gay’s) are the major segment of the society carrying the dangerous epidemic AIDS . Clandestinely they are always involved in such act, due to the fear of social restrictions and law; they can’t come for medical treatment. If there will be no such legal restrictions then they could be well treated and we can stop to spread this epidemic .UN has welcomed this verdict of High Court .It says it is an instrumental decision for other nation to liberalise this issue.

Now it is a much awaited issue to see just on the 150^th death anniversary of Mikel that his law will exist or will be abolished.