Army Chief General Bipin Rawat also said women should not serve in the armed forces, as their place is in taking care of the family.

India’s Supreme Court struck down the country’s gay sex ban in September of last year, but queer people will still not be welcome in the armed forces.

“The LGBT issues, in the army these are not acceptable,” Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said. “We will still be dealing with them under various sections of the Army Act.”

'The LGBT issues, in the army these are not acceptable', says Army Chief Bipin Rawat pic.twitter.com/Hk83DcRrNc — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 10, 2019

Homosexuality is still a punishable offense under the laws of the Indian military, Times Now reports.

MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images

The outlet cited Section 45 of the Army Act of 1950, dealing with “unbecoming conduct,” which states: “Any officer, junior commissioned officer or warrant officer who behaves in a manner unbecoming his position and the character expected of him shall, on conviction by court-martial, if he is an officer, be liable to be cashiered or to suffer such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and, if he is a junior commissioned officer or a warrant officer, be liable to be dismissed or to suffer such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.”

While homosexuality is not included in that language, Rawat said that should not be read as approval.

“In the Army we never thought this can happen. Anything that was thought of was put in the Army Act. It was something which was unheard of when the Army Act was made. We never thought this is going to happen. We never allow it. Therefore it was not put in the Army Act,” he said, according to The Economic Times.

Rawat has also said that women should not be allowed to serve in the armed forces, claiming their proper role is in raising children and taking care of the family, which has resulted in a backlash.