India Reform: Supreme Court makes landmark ruling on homosexuality

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02:49

A landmark judgement in India. The country's Supreme Court has decriminalized adult gay sex in the country scrapping a 150-year-old law and giving new life to the country's LGBT community. The five-judge constitutional bench actually reversed its own judgement from 2013 calling the law irrational and arbitrary. CGTN's Ravinder Bawa has more from the nation's capital, New Delhi.

The celebrations started in the lawns of the Supreme Court in Delhi as soon as it legalised same-sex relations between consenting adults. The members of the Community present in the court were ecstatic and emotional when they knew their right to love is not criminal anymore.

RITUPARNA BORAHGAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST "I was expecting it and was calm last night but when it was announced I was emotional as I think it was difficult for us to bear it anymore."

KRISHANUGAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST "Now no one can discriminate against me and now no one can say homosexuality is illegal and now no one can deny my fundamental rights."

The court instructed the Centre to publicise its order to help give wide publicity to eliminate stigma attached to LGBT community. The court said that any consensual sexual relationship between two consenting adults - homosexuals, heterosexuals or lesbians - cannot be said to be unconstitutional.

ANAND GROVERLAWYER "The Supreme Court has based on the article 14 and article 15, article 19 and 21, article 14 is about equality and article 15 non-discrimination, 19 is about freedom and 21 is about privacy and dignity and the court said that the LGBT cannot be denied all these rights."

As the joy of the community settles down after reaching the first milestone on the path of equality they realize that they still have a long way to go before they can reach their goals.

KABIR TRIVEDIGAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST "While this is a very good verdict. I am very happy, it is first step in a long battle, we have to fight for marriage rights and social rights and abortion rights and social equality. We have to constantly keep fighting but it is an important day."

While the fights for rights will still be on after this historic judgement, there is optimism that love will win finally. Ravinder Bawa, Delhi.