Chandigarh, July 2 (IANS) Strongly criticising a Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising homosexuality, Sikh clergy and religious leaders in Punjab Thursday called the ruling a “black day” for mankind.
Avtar Singh Makkar, president of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh body, told IANS: “We are shocked on this decision of the court and directly reject its ruling. There is no need of giving a second thought to it as no religion on this earth allows such kind of disgraceful thing to prevail.”

“It is unlawful and takes man on the path that would divert him away from God,” he added.

A member of radical Sikh group Dal Khalsa said on condition of anonymity: “This day should be remembered as a ‘black day’ in the history of mankind. We are unable to understand that how our judiciary can push the whole humanity towards deterioration, just to make a handful of eccentric and wayward individuals happy.

Members of SGPC, which manages the affairs of Sikh shrines around the world, have strongly condemned the court ruling.

Hardeep Singh, a SGPC member, said: “This decision of the court is the testimony of the fact that despite achieving so many landmarks we are still under the clutches of westerners. It is really sad that we are ruining our values and beliefs by blindly following other people.

“This will destroy the dignity of civilised society and the future of our youngsters.”

Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, is also expected to call an emergency meeting in the state to discuss this issue.

“This verdict of the Delhi High Court is clearly against the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib that guides us in every situation, right from our birth till death,” Giani Gurbachan Singh, head priest of Akal Takht, told IANS.

“It is also against the law of nature. We strongly condemn this verdict, and appeal to the central government and judiciary to rethink the decision. We also appeal to Sikh community to boycott this unacceptable ruling.”

In a judgement Thursday Delhi High Court struck down section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that terms homosexuality a criminal act.