NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court reaffirmed the validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), under which sexual acts among LGBTs (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender population) are a criminal offence attracting a maximum punishment of life sentence.

The Delhi High Court had diluted Section 377 of the IPC on July 2, 2009, holding that homosexual acts among consenting adults in privacy were no crime. However, the Supreme Court set aside that verdict on December 11, 2013, making such acts illegal once again. The Central Government and 34 others had come to the SC seeking a review of its ruling.

The SC rejected their pleas today. “We have gone through the review petitions and the connected papers. We see no reason to interfere with the order impugned. The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed,” a Bench comprising Justices HL Dattu and SJ Mukhopadhaya said in a brief order. The Bench also rejected the petitioners’ plea for oral hearing.