The Supreme Court will hear on January 6, 2014 a writ petition filed by social activist Purushotham Mulloli questioning the statements made by some Union Ministers attacking its judgment relating to Section 377 (homosexuality) of the Indian Penal code.
The petitioner said the criticism by Union Ministers Milind Deora, Kapil Sibal and P. Chidambaram and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the gay judgment was not fair, and thereby they violated the oath of office.
The petitioner said if a Minister or the government was aggrieved over the judgment, there was the remedy of a review petition and, thereafter, a curative petition. Pointing out that that the Centre did not file any appeal against the Delhi High Court judgment decriminalising homosexuality, he said it was strange that in a case in which the Government of India neither supported the law nor opposed it, some ministers were making statements which were “irrational” and in a manner “lowering the respect and dignity” of the apex court and “destroying” confidence in the judiciary.” (The Centre has since sought review of the apex court judgment.)
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A Bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam fixed the date of hearing on a mention made by counsel Harshvir Pratap Sharma.