By Faizan Mustafa
September 14, 2018
Last week, the Supreme Court overruled its
two judge-bench decision in the Suresh Koushal vs Naz Foundation case (2013)
and legalised homosexuality. Justice D Y Chandrachud did not mince words in
expressing his displeasure against the government for not taking a categorical
stand on Section 377. He said that the law criminalises behaviour that does not
conform to the heterosexual expectations of society. Justice Indu Malhotra
rightly said that history owes an apology to the homosexual community. It is a
different story that we have been unjust to so many sections of our society
that an apology is due almost every day.
The judges criticised the imposition of
Victorian morality through Section 377. Judeo-Christian morality did cast a big
influence on the colonial state’s laws. Islam too considers homosexuality as a
sin. Ancient Indian culture and mythology were more liberal. We know of
Shikhandi in Mahabharata, Lord Vishnu’s female incarnation as Mohini or Lord
Krishna turning into a woman to marry Arjuna’s son Aravan whom no woman was
willing to marry because he was doomed to die in a day. Erotic paintings and
sculptures in temples depict homosexual impulses of at least certain sections
of ancient society. The RSS, in its response to the judgment, has rejected
same-sex marriages. In a rare show of unity, the Muslim and Christian clergy
are with the RSS on this issue.
Since 377 is a question of criminal law,
the Muslim Personal Law Board should neither seek a review of the judgment nor
demand a legislative overturning of the verdict. As per Section 2 of the Dissolution
of Muslim Marriage Act,1939 a Muslim wife can still seek divorce from a husband
who leads an “infamous life,” which may include homosexuality.
Similarly under Section 13 of Hindu
Marriage Act, 1955, sodomy is a ground for divorce. Even the Indian Divorce
(Amendment) Act, 2001 makes sodomy as a ground for divorce under the Christian
law. Even now, the homosexual couples cannot adopt a child and same-sex
marriages have not yet been legalised. Many parents have disinherited their
homosexual children. Can we now restrict their absolute power to draft such
wills? Many more battles remain to be fought. The Supreme Court judgment has
merely decriminalised homosexuality but it has not altered the civil law on it.
Moreover, there has to be a difference between morality and law. But it is also
a fact that in setting aside triple divorce last year, the apex court had
noted, “what is bad in theology, cannot be good in law”.
Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra has said
that self-determination lies at the core of the concept of identity. The CJI
has rightly said that our attitudes and mentality have to change and we must
respect individuals for “who they are”, rather than compelling them to become
“who they are not”. Those who advocate the regressive idea of “one nation, one
religion, one law, one language” are likely to be shocked at this bold
recognition of diversity and distinct identities. The mainstreaming of cultures
has been rejected by the court. The Constitution under the doctrine of
“transformative constitutionalism” has to be progressive rather than
regressive. Let our clergy understand it.
The judges have unanimously said that
freedom of “choice” cannot be subjected to majoritarian perceptions. Rightist
parties would be unhappy to know that popular morality or public disapproval
can no longer restrict an individual or the minority’s “choice”. The Supreme
Court’s observations in the case on Section 377 will have an impact on the laws
in 25 states that ban the sale and consumption of beef. A petition against
Maharashtra’s beef law is pending with the apex court. Beef consumption cannot
be prohibited now on the ground that the majority community reverse cows.
Even the privacy judgment recognised that
food preferences are essentially about individual choices. Similarly, there is
now a question mark on the constitutionality of half a dozen anti-conversion
laws in different states in the country. Changing religion is a private matter
and the state cannot have a say in it.
The court struck down Section 377 on a number
of grounds that pertain to matters of dignity, identity, health and privacy. It
has ruled that consensual sex between adults in private space is neither
“harmful’ nor contagious to society”. The Court’s acceptance of the “harm
theory” will have an impact on the Triple Talaq Bill that is pending in the
Rajya Sabha. This is because after the apex court’s Shayra Bano (2017)
judgment, the triple divorce neither dissolves a marriage nor causes any “harm”
to anyone. Thus its criminalisation is not tenable.
In his judgment on Section 377, Justice R F
Nariman said that punishment of life imprisonment for violating this law was
clearly excessive and disproportionate. The three years’ imprisonment for those
pronouncing the harmless triple divorce will now be seen an excessive — the
punishment for causing death by rash and negligent driving is two years’
imprisonment.
It is common knowledge that court judgments
or laws cannot remove social prejudices on their own. The recent judgment on
mob lynching is an example. Let us see how the decision on Section 377 works on
the ground. However, this verdict will certainly help in removing the burden on
sexual minorities. It will usher in “choice jurisprudence” in India; religious
minorities will be well within their rights to assert their choices. The
Aadhaar judgment is now the apex court’s litmus test on the issue of protecting
individual autonomy, privacy and above all, choice.
Faizan Mustafa, an eminent jurist, is Vice-Chancellor NALSAR University
of Law, Hyderabad. Views are personal.
Source:
indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-section-377-verdict-homosexuality-legal-5355319/
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/islam-and-politics/faizan-mustafa/by-rejecting-homogenisation-of-cultures,-supreme-court’s-verdict-on-section-377-has-upheld-the-rights-of-religious-minorities/d/116375