The government is set to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the December 11 verdict of the apex court which set aside the Delhi High Court verdict of 2009, Times of India reports.
The law ministry is reported to have received the attorney general GE Vahanvati’s opinion. Filing a review petition was among the options listed by law minister Kapil Sibal when the verdict had come out. The move comes after most Congress leaders took a stand against the verdict with party president Sonia Gandhi calling the verdict ‘disappointing’. The opposition BJP has welcomed the verdict and pledged to oppose any move to amend or repeal Sec 377.
In this context, it is also important to note that the union government hadn’t opposed the Delhi High Court’s verdict in the Supreme Court and had taken a stand saying that they had no problems with the 2009 verdict decriminalizing homosexuality.