India: BJP's Rajasthan MP Arjun Ram Meghwal planning to raise anti-homosexuality bill in Parliament

The Hindu - December 11, 2013

Bikaner MP to raise anti-homosexuality bill in Lok Sabha

by Mahim Pratap Singh

While Wednesday's Supreme Court judgment on re-criminalising homosexuality has upset the LGBT community, Bikaner MP Arjun Ram Meghwal has welcomed the decision.

Last year, Mr. Meghwal had presented a private member bill in the Lok Sabha against the Delhi High Court judgment of 2009 which termed section 377 of the Indian Penal Code unconstitutional and decriminalised gay sex.

The bill, titled Indian Penal Code (amendment) bill 2012, however is yet to be discussed by the lower house.

With the apex court's Wednesday order overruling the Delhi HC judgment, Mr. Meghwal is all set to call the Lok Sabha's attention to his proposed legislation.

“The winter session of the parliament is on and Friday is the day reserved for discussions on private member bills. I will raise this issue in the Lok Sabha on Friday by way of a point of order,” Mr. Meghwal told The Hindu.

A point of order is an extraordinary process which, when raised, has the effect of suspending the proceedings before the House (and) must relate to the business before the House at the moment.

Mr. Meghwal held discussions across his constituency over the issue and claims people were unanimously opposed to de-criminalising gay sex.

“The main point of my bill is that the honourable Delhi High Court's decision is not in accordance with Indian culture,” said Mr. Meghwal.