India may decriminalize gay sex

NEW DELHI, June 27 (UPI) -- The government of India is considering repealing a law that makes homosexual sex illegal even for consenting adults.

Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad plan to meet soon to discuss their differences on the law, known as Section 377, Indian Express reported, citing sources.

"This section is an absurdity in today's world," a top official told the newspaper. "The government will certainly move to repeal it."

A legal challenge to the law has been made to the Delhi High Court. The law has been attacked both on the grounds that it is discriminatory and that it has encouraged the spread of AIDS by driving homosexual sex underground.

Previous efforts to overturn the law have been stymied by opposition in the cabinet and parliament from members who fear some groups are not willing to accept legalization of homosexuality.