Winds of change: SC scraps Sec 377, decriminalises gay sex, India celebrates

In a historic judgement on Thursday, Supreme Court decriminalised the archaic Sec 377 of IPC. (Photos: Mrugesh Bandiwadekar, AP, PTI)

A gay rights activist celebrates after the country's top court struck down a colonial-era law that makes homosexual acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in Mumbai. (Mrugesh Bandiwadekar)

People react after the Supreme Court verdict which decriminalises consensual gay sex, outside the Supreme Court in New Delhi. (PTI)

People react after the Supreme Court verdict which decriminalises consensual gay sex, outside the Supreme Court in New Delhi. (PTI)

An activist waves a rainbow flag (LGBT pride flag) after the Supreme Court verdict which decriminalises consensual gay sex, outside the Supreme Court in New Delhi. (PTI)

Hotelier Keshav Suri (2nd L), one of the petitioners in the Section 377 case, along with Devdutt Pattnaik and other LGBTQ activists celebrates the Supreme Court verdict that decriminalises the consensual gay sex, in New Delhi. (AP)

Members of the LGBT community dance to celebrate after the country's top court struck down a colonial-era law that made homosexual acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in Bangalore. (AP)

The court gave its ruling Thursday on a petition filed by five people who challenged the law, saying they are living in fear of being harassed and prosecuted by police. (Mrugesh Bandiwadekar)

A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises consensual unnatural sex. (Mrugesh Bandiwadekar)