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The
Christian-dominated state of Mizoram might disregard the
Delhi High Court's gay ruling and rather stick with an
100-year-old British law that rigidly criminalises
homosexuality.
The British law formulated in 1909 by superintendent of
then Lushai Hills HWG Cole strictly opposes
homosexuality and also punishes chiefs who fail to
"report all cases of unnatural offences".
"All tuais (homosexuals) who are clearly of the male sex
are to abandon wearing women's clothes and are to live
as men and will pay revenue and do cooly work," the rule
says.
It continues: "(Village) chiefs should report the cases
of any tuais whose sex is doubtful for my orders. Chiefs
are bound to report all cases of unnatural offences that
come to their notice whether of not any complaint has
been made to them. Failure to do this will be severely
punished.”
Mizo church leaders expressing 'disappointment' over the
gay ruling said it would oppose the verdict and support
the 1909 order that was framed with Christianity in
mind.
"I do not see any positive part in scrapping Article
377. Personally speaking, I believe that the 1909 order
is still a good order for the Mizo Christians,”
Lalbiakzuala, general secretary of the Young Mizo
Association was quoted saying.
Reverend Zosangliana Colney, executive secretary of the
Mizoram Synod, says the British order was strongly
supported by the church as "homosexuality is directly
against the ethics of Christianity and the Bible.
Last week, a fellowship of pastors from the commercial
hub of Dimapur in the state of Nagaland came out
strongly against the bill that permitted gay sex between
consenting adults.
"We are totally against the move and we demand the Union
Government to overturn the verdict," Baptist Pastors’
Fellowship of Dimapur (BPFD) said.
Meanwhile, a petition filed in Supreme Court challenged
the HC's verdict and demanded the reinstating of the
148-year-old law.
The petition by Suresh Kaushal said India's ancient
scriptures and values did not permit homosexuality and
maintained that the recent court judgment would lead to
the spread of HIV and Aids.
Chief Justice of India K Balakrishnan heard the
petition. He has demanded the government and rights
groups to respond the same.
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