<span style="color: #222222;">In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court today decriminalised consensual same-sex acts. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The court heard petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalised consensual unnatural sex. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-year-old colonial law. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The bench, which also comprised Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra, struck down Section 377 as irrational, indefensible, manifestly arbitrary and violative of the right to equality. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Supreme Court said other aspects of Section 377 remain in force. These deal with unnatural sex with animals and children. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The United Nations lauded the Supreme Court and said the judgment will boost efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against LGBTI persons.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It also hoped the ruling will be the first step towards guaranteeing the full range of fundamental rights to such persons.</span><br />