Indian Express, Agencies : New Delhi, 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. 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. 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. Sourec: Indian Express
