PRUNING OF SECTION 377, INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860 AND CHANGED DYNAMICS OF MORALITY IN INDIAN SOCIETY

Abstract

Purpose: The research paper has been written in order to analyze the impact of reading down the notorious section of Indian Penal Code, 1860 which being Section 377 which penalized every sexual act other than a heterosexual union even if consensual in the judgment given by the Supreme Court of India in Navjot Singh v. Union of India on the society of India. This paper aims to see its impact on the morality of the Indian community on the known definitions and working of the morality in the social and the legal system.
 Methodology: In this work classical method of research has been followed which being doctrinal research also, a comparative analysis between the legal text of Section 377 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the judgments announced by the Supreme court of India has been undertaken with the proportional qualitative analysis done with moral set up of Indian Society.
 Main Findings: The analysis conducted on law and social structure of Indian Society by the researchers point out to the fact that after reading down of Section 377, the social set-up of India is resenting the recognition granted to third sex and gender because it disturbs its moral thread which has knitted the social structure known as of now and introduces a third angle in known concepts of sex and sexuality which till now have been relying on parallel tracks of male and female sex/gender.
 Application: This research piece will aid students in understanding the concept of morality and will demonstrate its effect on the working of the Criminal system of a country. Moreover, it will also give support in understanding the role of biological sex and sexual preferences in shaping law as known today.
 Novelty/Originality: This research is novel in its attempt of wherein morality has been traced in the criminal legal system of the country which is most prominent in issues related to the sex of the human body and its sexuality.