Army won't decriminalize gay sex, says Bipin Rawat
Addressing his annual press conference in New Delhi, Army Chief Bipin Rawat on Thursday said the army won't decriminalize gay sex in the army. Rawat was asked for a comment on the Supreme Court's landmark judgment which decriminalized gay sex and read down the archaic Section 377. He said some things are different in the Army, which is conservative in nature. Here's more.
Some things are different for us: Rawat
Saying the Indian Army has its own laws, Rawat said, "We won't allow this to happen in the Army." He said the Army wasn't above the country's laws but when one joins the armed forces, some of the rights and privileges are curtailed. "Some of the rights and privileges you enjoy are not what we have. Some things are different for us," he said.
Here's what he said
Adultery will still invite punishment in the Army
Apart from homosexuality, Rawat also clarified the Army's stand on adultery. Last year, the apex court had said adultery wasn't a criminal offense, a verdict which was welcomed by all. But Rawat said such things can't be allowed to enter the Army. Those guilty of adultery could be court-martialled or sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment under Section 69 of the Army Act.
SC took a progressive stand but Army isn't ready
While the apex court took a progressive stand on adultery and said, "Adultery might not be the cause of an unhappy marriage, it could be the result of an unhappy marriage," Rawat has clarified the Army will not follow the route. In the Army, Air Force and Navy, adultery is described as 'stealing the affection of a brother officer's wife'.
Earlier, Rawat's comment on women in combat roles sparked controversy
Notably, Rawat had stirred controversy last month when he explained why women couldn't be given difficult combat roles in the Army. He had said women's task was to raise kids, opined that they would feel uncomfortable on the frontline and could accuse jawans of peeping while they would change clothes. Twitter users were quick to berate him for sexist remarks.
