India's top court says law criminalizing homosexuality to stand, dealing blow to gay activists | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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India's top court says law criminalizing homosexuality to stand, dealing blow to gay activists

Indian gay rights activists and others stand outside the Supreme Court after the top court ruled that a colonial-era law criminalizing homosexuality will remain in effect in India in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. The Supreme Court threw out a 2009 New Delhi High Court decision that struck down the law as unconstitutional, dealing a blow to gay activists who have argued for years for the chance to live openly in India's deeply conservative society. The top court said it was for lawmakers and not the courts to decide the matter. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)

NEW DELHI - India's top court says a colonial-era law making homosexuality a crime will remain in effect.

The decision dealt a blow to gay rights activists campaigning for years against strong religious opposition in India's deeply conservative society.

Supporters of gays, lesbians and transsexuals vowed to continue pressing for the removal of a law which makes gay sex punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The court said in its ruling Wednesday that a High Court decision in 2009 to strike down the law was unconstitutional, as that it was for lawmakers — and not courts — to decide the matter.

News from © The Associated Press, 2013
The Associated Press

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