Sex and the Supreme Court

At 12.12 p.m. on 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India created history by reading down Section 377 - reversing an archaic law laid down by the British in 1860 and decriminalizing homosexuality for the first time in modern India.

Yet, this is not the only ruling that the Supreme Court has made in recent times championing the rights of an individual to her or his identity and dignity. From empowering the transgender community and lending teeth to the prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace, to protecting the privacy, rights and dignity of women and minorities on issues such as interfaith marriages, entering the Sabarimala temple, the controversial triple talaq and the striking down of the adultery law - the highest court of the land has firmly placed the individual at the centre of the constitutional firmament, and set a course for progressive societal reform.