India’s government is considering repealing laws that ban homosexuality, after its Supreme Court upheld a law banning gay sex that had earlier been suspended.
In December 2013, the country’s highest court overturned a 2009 Delhi High Court order, which had legalised same-sex relations. The Supreme Court’s action brought a colonial-era law back into force under which gay sex can be punished by up to ten years in prison.
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the ruling had taken the country “back to 1860”.
Law Minister Kapil Sibal said that “all options were being considered” to reinstate the Delhi High Court order and restore the status quo.
The United Nations called the Supreme Court’s decision “a significant step backwards for India”.
