Section 377: Love wins, Supreme Court decriminalises homosexuality

In a historic decision, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults by reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

LGBT Community has same rights as of any ordinary citizen. Respect for each others rights, and others are supreme humanity. Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible, observes CJI Dipak Misra.

SC says Section 377 of IPC was weapon to harass members of LGBT community, resulting in discrimination. However, the Court made it clear that sex with animals, which also forms a part of Section 377, will remain a criminal offence.

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.

Justice Rohinton Nariman, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Indu Malhotra delivered concurring judgments thereby making the verdict of the five-judge bench a unanimous one.

People across the country celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.