In what can be termed as a landmark judgment homosexuality is no longer a crime in India. 5 Supreme Court judges have scrapped Section 377. "Societal morality cannot trump constitutional morality. Societal morality cannot overturn the fundamental rights of even a single person. Sexual orientation is biological, innate. She or he has no control over who they get attracted to. Any repression will be a violation of free expression," the Chief Justice of India's verdict states. Bollywood took to Twitter to laud the judgment. Here’s what Arjun Kapoor, Karan Johar, Abhishek Bachhan, Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha and Taapsee Pannu among others have to say.
8 years later, Delhi HC decriminalised sex between consenting adults of the same gender and held the penal provision “illegal”. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court overturned the judgment and also dismissed the review plea. Hope for the LGBT community was revived when, in 2014, the Supreme Court directed the government to declare transgender a ‘third gender’ and include them in OBC quota. On August 24, 2017, the SC upheld the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under the Constitution. The court also called for equality and condemned discrimination. In January 2018, a three-member SC bench heard a petition filed by 5 people asking apex court to revisit the Naaz Foundation judgment. The case was referred to a higher bench.
The Supreme Court has officially struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and hence, decriminalised homosexuality. A number of Bollywood stars such as Arjun Kapoor, Karan Johar, Abhishek Bachhan, Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha and Taapsee Pannu among others took to Twitter to hail the judgment.
#Karan Johar Historical judgment!!!! So proud today! Decriminalising homosexuality and abolishing #Section377 is a huge thumbs up for humanity and equal rights! The country gets its oxygen back!
#Taapsee Pannu My India of 2018!!!! Truly heartening ! Let's embrace one n all and their choices
#Rajkummar Rao Historic verdict by Supreme Court today. #377
#Farhan Akhtar "Bye bye 377. Thank you #SupremeCourt #abouttime #nomorediscrimination #loveislove @MardOfficial."
#Ayushmann Khurrana RIP #Section377 The new sunshine of this day is that of a progressive India. Love all!