Naz Foundation suit to end homosexuality a crime

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" Report: Court Tells Indian Government to Clarify Its Stand on

Criminalizing Homosexual Relations "

Associated Press (01.16.03)

New Delhi's High Court ordered India's government to respond

within a month to an AIDS organization's suit seeking an end to

the law that makes homosexual relations a crime, the Indian

Express reported Thursday. There have been few cases in recent

years of prosecution under the law that declares homosexual

activity a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. But the

Naaz Foundation, which brought the suit, said police use the

threat of the law to harass homosexuals, who are afraid to come

forward to seek AIDS prevention help. The foundation said the

harassment is a violation of homosexuals' human rights. " Despite

a number of adjournments, no affidavit is filed by the [federal

government] and a last opportunity is given to it to submit it

within four weeks, " Chief Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice B.D.

Ahmed said in their orders Wednesday.

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