Sec 377 verdict to push equality
New Delhi, Sept. 6: Multi-national firms feel partial scrapping of section 377 by the Supreme Court liberates rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBT) community and will push for equality among workforce.
Lauding the apex court judgement, US based firm Salesforce said that the decision is a huge step to-wards ensuring equality for all in the world's largest democracy.
“At Salesforce, we have always championed the rights of the LGBT community and fostered a culture where employees are encouraged to bring their whole, authentic selves to work,” Shweta Rajpal Kohli, Director Public Policy and Govt Affairs, Salesforce, India said. A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-yearold colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC, which criminalises consensual unnatural sex, saying it violated the rights to equality.
The constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra termed the part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises consensual unnatural sex as irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary.
The bench also said the other aspects of Section 377 dealing with unnatural sex with animals and children remain in force.
Teamlease said section 377 has been a challenging issue in India.