Homosexuality no longer a crime in India rules Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of India (File Photo)
In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Thursday scrapped section 377 of the IPC which criminalises consensual homosexual act.
The apex court ruled that the Gay sex among consenting adults is not longer an offence.
This has come as a huge victory for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community in India.
The top court delivering separate but concurring judgments, said it is the constitutional and not social morality which will prevail.
Chief Justice Dipak Misra, also speaking for Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, said attitude and mentality has to change to accept the others’ identity and accept what they are and not what they should be.
Chief Justice Misra noted that section 377 is arbitary. “LGBT community possess rights like others”, he said.
Justice Rohinton Nariman, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Indu Malhotra delivered concurring judgments thereby making the verdict of the five-judge bench a unanimous one.
By EP Web Desk
(With Inputs From IANS)
