Welcome today’s landmark ruling by SC, sexual orientation form integral part of identity: UN 

The United Nations on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict of decriminalising homosexuality in India. The UN statement noted "that sexual orientation and gender expression form an integral part of an individual's identity".

"Welcome today’s landmark ruling by SC. Violence, stigma and discrimination based on these attributes constitute an egregious violation of human rights," the UN noted.

The Supreme Court of India today decriminalised homosexuality stating that it is not a crime.

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"Respect for individual choice is the essence of liberty," Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said while delivering the historic order.

"Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible," Misra said.

He added that the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) community has the same rights as any other citizen.

The homosexuality law, commonly known as Section 377, prohibited "carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal".

The law made the offence punishable with life imprisonment, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, with a fine.