CHRONOLOGY

Naaz 2001 Foundation, an NGO fighting for gay rights, files PIL in Delhi HC seeking legalisation of gay sex among consenting adults. HC dismisses SEP 2004 the PIL; Gay right activists file review petition. HC dismisses NOV 3 review petition. Gay rights DEC activists approach SC against the HC order. SC APR 3, 2006 remands the case back to HC, directs it to reconsider the matter on merit. HC allows senior OCT 4 BJP leader B P Singhal's plea, opposing decriminalising gay sex, to be impleaded in the case. Centre SEPT 18, 2008 seeks more time to take stand on the issue after contradictory stand between Home and Health ministries over decriminalisation of homosexuality. HC refuses the plea and final arguments in the case begin. Gay rights' SEPT 25 activists contend that the government cannot infringe upon their fundamental right to equality by decriminalising homosexual acts on the ground of morality. The Centre SEPT 26 says gay sex is immoral and a reflection of a perverse mind and its decriminalisation would lead to moral degradation of society. HC pulls up OCT 15 the Centre for relying on religious texts to justify ban on gay sex and asks it to come up with scientific reports to justify it. Govt in its written NOV submission before HC says judiciary should refrain from interfering in the issue as it is basically for Parliament to decide. HC NOV 7, 2008 reserves verdict on pleas filed by gay rights activists seeking decriminalisation of homosexual acts. HC allows JUL 2, 2009 plea of gay rights activists and legalises sexual activity among consenting adults of same sex. Delhi astrologer JUL 9 challenges HC verdict in SC. Several other pleas challenging the judgment also filed. SC begins FEB 15, 2012 final daytoday hearing in the case. SC refers FEB 2, 2016 curative pleas on homosexuality to five- judge bench. SC JUNE 29, 2016 refers the plea of celebrities like dancer N S Jauhar and hotelier Aman Nath to a bench already seized of the matter.