Nothing very much more to add at the moment. Its been evident for a while that the GoI is OK with the Naz India verdict, but didn't want to have to say this openly. But ironically it looks like its hand was forced by ASG Malhotra during these hearings when he got up and repeated all the stuff he said in the Delhi High Court for the Home Ministry opposing decriminalisation. At that time, and again last week, another ASG Mohan Jain got up and did his best to rectify this by saying, first that the Health Ministry, and then the Government, was OK with the verdict. But the judges were understandably irritated by these differing views and were clearly looking for some definitive statement from the government. When they still didn't get it, they finally ordered the AG yesterday to appear in court today and explain the GoI position. And when he finally did come to court, the AG was clear. He said the GoI had no legal objections to the verdict and that Mr.Malhotra was mistakenly proceeding on the basis of his arguments in the Delhi High Court. But since then the verdict had come out and the GoI had learned from it and now had no objections. That was as clear a stand as we were likely to get and this was really something of a breakthrough. In another small bit of news, and a confirmation of how high profile this case has become, Ram Jethmalani, the legendary lawyer was in court yesterday and requested the court to hear his statement on this matter. The court didn't have time yesterday, but he is again in court today and perhaps he might be heard. We have no idea what he might say, but he is on record writing that the Naz judgment was good, so lets see.
