Provide number of homosexual individuals in India,SC directs govt

Govt tells court 23.9 lakh HIV affected in India; pulled up for 'shoddy homework' in case.

Expressing displeasure for not furnishing details of the homosexual population in India,the Supreme Court today asked for all relevant records from the Centre about the LGBT (lesbian,gay,bisexual and transgender) people,including their population and the number of those HIV-infected.

A bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya said the data put before the Delhi High Court had not been submitted to the apex court. They directed the Centre to provide full information on the next date of hearing.

The apex court was hearing the Centre’s arguments on the 2009 Delhi High court that had decriminalised gay sex.

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The bench also pulled up the government and its officials for not doing their “homework” in the case.

“You should have done your homework before coming to court,” the bench told the official appearing in court.

The apex court said the Centre had stated before the Delhi High Court that eight per cent of homosexuals were HIV infected. It asked Centre the latest figures of the LGBT population and also the number inflicted with the deadly infection.

The government,however,contended there were 23.9 lakh people infected with HIV in the country.

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The apex court was hearing petitions filed by anti-gay rights activists and also by political,social and religious organisations,which have opposed the high court verdict.

Senior BJP leader B P Singhal has challenged the high court verdict in the Supreme Court saying such acts are illegal,immoral and against ethos of Indian culture.

Religious organisations like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board,Utkal Christian Council and Apostolic Churches Alliance too have challenged the judgement.

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Right,Tamil Nadu Muslim Munn Kazhgam,astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal and yoga guru Ramdev too have opposed the verdict.