SC hearing on Section 377 LIVE: A five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and comprising Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra will begin hearing petitions today (Express Photo/Amit Mehra)
The Supreme Court Tuesday will begin hearing a clutch of petitions challenging Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises homosexuality. A five-judge Constitutional bench had refused to defer the hearing after the Centre sought more time to file its reply. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, comprises Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra.
The Centre on Monday had requested the court to adjourn the hearing for four weeks during which it would file its reply to the petitions. The bench, however, refused and listed it for today.
Section 377 deals with “unnatural offences,” and holds “whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with 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.”
Members and supporters of the LGBTQ group hold a rally in New Delhi (Express Photo/Abhinav Saha/File)
In January, the case was referred to a Constitutional bench. The new five-judge bench is headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprises justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra.
The Centre on Monday had requested the court to delay hearing petitions challenging Section 377 and sought more time to file its reply. The bench, however, had refused and stated, "It will not be adjourned... We will go ahead with the scheduled hearing... You file whatever you want during the hearing."
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to delay hearing a clutch of petitions challenging Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalises homosexuality. A five-judge Constitutional bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra, has listed it for today. Follow our LIVE blog as we bring you the latest news from the court.