CSWSMR welcomes SC order on Section 377 of IPC
Bengaluru, September 6: The Coalition for Sex Workers and Sexual Minorities Rights has welcomed the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court which has recognized and granted all forms of constitutional protection and citizenship to the persons identified as queer in the country.
In a press release, Ayyan Syed and Uma from the organization said that the judgement was a huge leap forward in recognizing the rights of gender and sexual minorities and it came at a time when other forms of civil liberties and dissent were being cracked down by the state, they said.
“While we celebrate the victory, we must be cognizant of the continuing struggles of dalits, tribals, farmers, students and other marginalized communities. It is a culmination of a long and difficult struggle against IPC Section 377, which criminalized the everyday life, relationships and loves of the LGBTQI community in the country. We have to remember many of our allies and friends from the community who have shaped the struggle. The verdict is the outcome of a prolonged and sustained movement built at the grassroots level, and on the streets across the country. It embodies a collective and cooperative effort on the part of several movements, Individuals, Lawyers, Organizations, Health Professionals and Families of LGBTQI persons”, they said.
The judgement was the reiteration of the fundamental rights entitled to all persons in the Constitution. The verdict was a powerful reminder that individual autonomy, liberty and dignity were inherent in all persons and could not be held hostage to the whims and fancies of the majority. All the five judges of the Supreme Court have demonstrated the dynamic, versatile and timeless nature of Constitution while hearing the case. The dream of equality, egalitarianism and anti-discrimination as envisaged by Dr B.R. Ambedkar has come closure to the reality with this judgement. The obligation on the state to ensure that institutions such as the police and health departments were regularly sensitized on issues and concerns of LGBTQI persons was increased with the judgement. An end to the legally backed institutional homophobia of the state, which was in many ways personified by IPC Section 377 appeared to be good place to start, they said.
Justice Chandrachud has so eloquently said “In upholding Constitutional morality, we affirm that the protection of LGBT individuals are not only about guaranteeing a minority their rightful place in the constitutional scheme, but that we equally speak of the vision of the kind of country we want to live in and of what it means for the majority”, they said.
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Two African nationals linked to 12 cyber fraud complaints nationwide held in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): Two African nationals have been arrested over suspected involvement in an international cyber fraud racket that allegedly duped victims across multiple states of more than Rs 50 lakh, police said on Thursday.
The accused allegedly impersonated women on online platforms to befriend Indian victims and build emotional relationships. They would later claim to be travelling to India and fabricate stories about being detained at airports or facing immigration issues, seeking money for clearance and other expenses.
Police said the arrests were made following sustained surveillance, technical analysis and verification of suspicious mule bank accounts linked to multiple complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
According to the police, at least 12 complaints from across states involving defrauded funds exceeding Rs 50 lakh were traced to several bank accounts used by the accused.
"These accounts were opened in different names across various banks and were used to receive money fraudulently obtained from victims," a senior police officer said.
During investigation, six mobile phones and two passports were seized from the accused. Police said the devices contained incriminating chats, details of mule bank accounts and conversations with victims, along with fabricated images related to airports apparently used to mislead targets.
Both accused are also suspected to have links with drug trafficking activities in the Delhi-NCR region and are being probed further, police said, adding that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members.
