Powered by USC Law http://mylaw.usc.edu/blogCruz Today the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi sharply limited Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.&nbsp; Section 377, which prohibits &quot;carnal intercourse&quot; and has come to be known as the &quot;unnatural offences&quot; section, was facially neutral but in practice targeted LGBT persons.&nbsp; The Court held it unconstitutional insofar as it criminalized consensual sex acts between adults in private.&nbsp; In closing, the Court wrote:<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;If there is one constitutional tenet that can be said to be <br /> underlying theme of the Indian Constitution, it is that of <br /> 'inclusiveness'. This Court believes that Indian Constitution <br /> reflects this value deeply ingrained in Indian society, <br /> nurtured over several generations. The inclusiveness that <br /> Indian society traditionally displayed, literally in every <br /> aspect of life, is manifest in recognising a role in society for <br /> everyone.&nbsp; Those perceived by the majority as &ldquo;deviants' or <br /> 'different' are not on that score excluded or ostracised.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Where society can display inclusiveness and understanding, <br /> such persons can be assured of a life of dignity and non- <br /> discrimination. ... &nbsp; In our view, Indian <br /> Constitutional law does not permit the statutory criminal law <br /> to be held captive by the popular misconceptions of who the <br /> LGBTs are.&nbsp; It cannot be forgotten that discrimination is anti- <br /> thesis of equality and that it is the recognition of equality <br /> which will foster the dignity of every individual.&quot; http://mylaw.usc.edu/blogCruz/1/2009/07/Delhi-High-Court-Curtails-Sodomy-Law.cfm 2009-07-02T07:06:54-08:00 sodomy, India, human rights,respect for private life, sexual orientation, gender identity, LGBTI rights