Lawyers Behind Historic Section 377 Verdict Come Out as a Couple

These women came out as a gay couple after felling Section 377.

You go, women! 

(Photo: Twitter/Arundhati Katju) 

In an interview to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on 18 July, Supreme Court lawyers, Menaka Gurswamy and Arundhati Katju opened up as being a couple.

Last year the Indian Supreme Court read down the draconian Section 377. Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju had spearheaded the legal challenge to strike down Section 377 of IPC.

The duo highlighted those who suffered under the law by enlisting more than two dozen gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people as co-petitioners. They contested that people risked arrest for publicly identifying themselves as part of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community.

“The loss in 2013 was a loss as lawyers, a loss as citizens. It was a personal loss. It is not nice to be a ‘criminal’ who has to go back to court as a lawyer to argue other cases.”  

Menaka Guruswami to <a href="https://twitter.com/saurabhvashist_/status/1151660344667975680">CNN</a>

Also Read: Section 377 and How the Supreme Court Made History

Soon after the video was aired, the duo took to Twitter to tweet about #SareeTwitter.

These women are sure breaking the glass ceiling and have paved the way for many more to do the same!

On 6 September the Indian Supreme Court struck down the draconian Victorian era law that criminalized homosexuality.

It emphatically overruled its regressive Koushal judgment of 2013, which had upheld Section 377 of the IPC in its entirety, allowing it to be used to punish even consensual same-sex acts.

History was made. It is no longer a criminal offense to be gay in India.

The Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment, decriminalising a 157-year-old British-era law that criminalised even consensual homosexual relations.

The Constitution Bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, as well as Justices Rohinton Nariman, DY Chandrachud, AM Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra delivered a unanimous judgment.

“First step towards vanquishing enemies of prejudice and injustice has to be taken”, read the judgment. We must get rid of prejudice and discrimination. Concept of Constitutional morality creates responsibility of State to protect. Fidelity to constitutional morality must not be confused with popular sentiment.”

Justice DY Chandrachud

Also Read: All You Need to Know About the SC’s Landmark Section 377 Verdict