Jai HO

Today is the Pabitra Bahuda Yatra, today Lord Jagannath accompanied by brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra return back home to Puri Jagannath Temple. Today is truly an auspicious day and will also be remembered for another historic landmark judgment, the Delhi High Court on Thursday legalised consensual sex among gays. The court has struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A bench comprising of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S Muralidhar said that if not amended, Section 377 of the IPC would violate Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which states that every citizen has equal opportunity of life and is equal before law.

"We declare Section 377 of IPC in so far as it criminalises consensual sexual acts of adults in private violates Articles 14, 21 and 15 of the Constitution," the Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar said. However, Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises homosexuality will continue for non-consensual, non-vaginal sex.

JAI HO