Section 377: Gay sex is legal in India now

NEW DELHI: A five-judge SC bench on Thursday by unanimous decision decriminalised Section 377 making gay sex legal. CJI Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar pronounced the first judgment saying consensual sexual relation between same gender adults in private does not fall foul of section 377 IPC. Here is a look at what the apex court said in its verdict -* "Section 377 is irrational, arbitrary and incomprehensible as it fetters the right to equality for LGBT community."* "Our Constitution nurtures dissent as a safety valve of society and it does not impose conformity. We cannot change history but pave the way for better future."* "Centre must give wide periodic publicity to SC judgment to eliminate stigma attached to LGBT community."* " Homosexuality is not a mental problem and the Parliament is also alive to the fact."* "LGBT community has the same rights like other members of society."* "Any kind of sexual activity with animals shall remain penal offence under Section 377 of the IPC."* "Punishment under Section 377 made the LGBT a closeted community, destroyed the identity of members and reached their dignity, all part of right to life."* "Progressive and pragmatic view should be taken by court to come to the rescue of oppressed section of society. The law must be interpreted as per the requirement of changing times."* "Court must try to protect the dignity of every individual of the society including people from LGBT. Sexual orientation is natural and people have no control on it."* "Social morality cannot violate the rights of even one single individual."* "It amounts to retrograde step if we accept the verdict on criminalising gay sex."* "SC says consensual sex between adults in private space, which is not harmful to women or children, cannot be denied as it is a matter of individual choice."* "Section 377 is a colonial legacy and it continued in the law book even after independence."* "Human tendency to love among LGBT community members had been caged by a 158 year old law, Sec 377. Though 87 yrs after the law was born India got independence, Legislature did not take measures to give LGBT community the equal rights for sexual relation."