Tharoor's bill to amend Sec 377 not admitted in LS

December 18, 2015 16:34

India's LGBT rights movement suffered another major setback today afternoon when the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament refused to admit Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's proposal for reading down Section 377 even for a discussion.

Tharoor had tabled a bill to amend Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, in order to decriminalise consensual adult homosexuality.

However, as soon as the speaker introduced the bill in the Parliament today for a voice vote on admission, some BJP MPs loudly protested saying "No".

The bill received a measly 24 'ayes' in comparison to the large 71 'noes' while seven voters 'abstained' from the process.

Shashi Tharoor clarified his position on why the Parliament should discuss the matter.

He quoted the Supreme Court's directive in its December 2013 ruling, that "a competent legislative authority" should take a call on Section 377. "What I am doing is following the directive of the Supreme Court", said Tharoor.

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