Homosexuality a crime? SC declares verdict on Section 377

The Supreme Court on Thursday partially scrapped Section 377 and thus gave a spectacular verdict on gay rights movement in India. The verdict was written down in four separate judgments by CJI Dipak Misra and Justices RF Nariman, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra.

Misra read out the unanimous verdicts expressed through the four separate but concurring judgements. He observed that nobody can escape from individualism and that society is better for individualism. He said, "Sustenance of identity is the pyramid of life."

Section 377 which was against the rights of LGBTQ has now been partially struck down. CJI Misra read, "The law will no longer apply to consensual same-sex acts between homosexuals, heterosexuals, lesbians but will still apply to bestiality and sexual acts without consent by one of them.”

September 6 will now go down in Indian history as the day when a seemingly unfair law penned during the British-era criminalising homosexuality and individuality was taken down. CJI Dipak Misra noted, "We have to bid adieu to prejudices and to empower all citizens," and thus paved an equal path for all in India.