‘Momentous’, ‘historic’: Leaders, activists hail landmark SC verdict on Section 377

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday, terming Section 377 of the IPC "irrational", "arbitrary" and "incomprehensible", ruled that consensual adult sex between two gay couple is not a crime. Here is a look at all the reactions following the landmark verdict by the apex court -




Shashi Tharoor, Congress
“So pleased to learn that the Supreme Court has ruled against criminalising sexual acts in private. This decision vindicates my stand on Section 37 and on exactly the same grounds of privacy, dignity and constitutional freedoms. It shames those BJP MPs who vociferously opposed me in LS.”

United Nations
"Welcome today’s landmark ruling by SC. Sexual orientation & gender expression form an integral part of an individual’s identity the world over & violence, stigma & discrimination based on these attributes constitute an egregious violation of human rights."


Watch: Gay sex is no longer a crime in India; what is Section 377?
Keshav Suri, Executive Director of Lalit Group of hotels and petitioner in Section 377 case
"All the lawyers and judges who have worked on this are the people to be interviewed and thanked. I am nobody but they are the people to be thanked. It is a massive time to celebrate."

Randeep S Surjewala, Congress spokesperson
“Supreme Court verdict on Section 377 is momentous. An age-old colonial law, that was an anachronism in today’s modern times, which ends (today). Restores the fundamental rights and negating discrimination based on sexual orientation. It’s an important step forward towards a liberal, tolerant society.”

Belgium Embassy in India

Priyanka Chaturvedi

, Congress
"Hugely important. A landmark and historic Section 377 verdict by the Supreme Court today. Down with barriers to love! Love cannot be a criminality, humans cannot be discriminated against for their sexuality! Thank you esteemed judges of the SC, for yet again, standing up for what is right!"

Meenakshi Ganguly, Director South Asia, Human Rights Watch

Milind Deora, former Union minister Lotte Leicht, EU Director, Human Rights Watch
"A very good day for human rights in India! The Supreme Court unanimously rules to remove Section 377 declaring gay sex is no longer a crime."

Kanimozhi, DMK
"Personal choices we make in our lives should not be dictated by law - well done SC for this historic verdict."

Shruti Seth, Television personality and activist