The Supreme Court today set aside the Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising gay sex and upheld the legality of section 377 of the IPC, entailing imprisonment with upto life term
Following is the chronology of the 12-year-long legal proceedings:
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Year 2001
An NGO fighting for gay rights, Naz Foundation, files PIL in Delhi High Court seeking legalisation of gay sex among consenting adults.
A gay rights supporter participates in a Queer Azadi March in Mumbai. (file pic)
Sept 2, 2004
High Court dismisses the PIL seeking decriminalisation of gay sex. Sept: Gay right activists file review petition.
November 3, 2004
HC dismisses the review plea. Dec: Gay rights activists approach the apex court against the order of the High Court.
April 3, 2006
Apex court directs the HC to reconsider the matter on merit and remands the case back to High Court.
October 4, 2006
HC allows senior BJP leader BP Singhal's plea, opposing decriminalising gay sex, to be impleaded in the case.
September 18, 2008
Centre seeks more time to take stand on the issue after the contradictory stand between the Home and Health ministries over decriminalisation of homosexuality. HC refuses the plea and final argument in the case begins.
September 25, 2008
Gay rights activists contend that the government cannot infringe upon their fundamental right to equality by decriminalising homosexual acts on the ground of morality.
September 26, 2008
HC pulls up the Centre for speaking in two voices on the homosexuality law in view of contradictory affidavits filed by Health and Home ministries.
Centre says gay sex is immoral and a reflection of a perverse mind and its decriminalisation would lead to moral degradation of society.
October 15, 2008
HC pulls up the Centre for relying on religious texts to justify ban on gay sex and asks it to come up with scientific reports to justify it.
November 2008
Government in its written submission before the HC says judiciary should refrain from interfering in the issue as it is basically for Parliament to decide.
November 7, 2008
HC reserves its verdict on petitions filed by gay rights activists seeking decriminalisation of homosexual acts.
July 2, 2009
HC allows plea of gay rights activists and legalises gay sex among consenting adults.
July 9, 2009
Delhi astrologer challenges HC verdict in SC. Later on, several others including BJP leader Singhal (since dead), religious organisations, rights activists and yoga guru Ramdev's disciple have also opposed the judgement.
Febuary 15, 2012
SC begins final day-to-day hearing in the case. March 27, 2012: SC reserves verdict.
December 11, 2013
SC sets aside the 2009 Delhi High Court order which had decriminalised gay sex.
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