Lok Sabha votes out homosexuality bill introduced by Cong leader Shashi Tharoor

He cited the SC order that upheld Section 377 on the grounds that it “does not suffer from the vice of unconstitutionality”. The apex court had set aside a Delhi High Court judgment of 2009 that had termed the section unconstitutional.

Tharoor pointed out that Dubey quoted the SC judgment “in a very partial manner”. He said, “The SC, rather than upholding the section, actually said the onus is on the competent legislature of Parliament and I quote: ‘To consider the desirability and propriety of deleting Section 377 IPC from the statute book or amend the same.’ What I am doing is, following the direction of the Supreme Court, proposing an amendment of the same. I am not deleting it.”

With none of the Congress members present in the House, Tharoor was supported by BJD’s Tathagata Satpathy.

Tharoor later tweeted that it was “surprising to see such intolerance” in the matter of decriminalising sex between consenting adults. “Notice of intent to oppose introduction of Bill came so late that there was no time to rally support. Will try again in future. We shall overcome!” his tweet read.