Equal rights', 'historic judgment': Celebs hail SC's verdict decriminalising homosexualit

Bollywood celebrities such as Karan Johar, Hansal Mehta and Alia Bhatt welcomed the Supreme Court's judgement Thursday decriminalising consensual gay sex, calling it a historic victory for equal rights and a proud moment for the country.

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously struck down a part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, said the law was violative of right to equality.

Director Hansal Mehta, who made "Aligarh", a true-life inspired film about in Aligarh Muslim University professor Ramchandra Siras, who faced discrimination for being gay, called the verdict a "new beginning".

"A new beginning. The law is gone. The Supreme Court has done what parliament failed to do. Now it's time for attitudes to change. Let's rejoice but let us also reflect. This is a new beginning. #Sec377verdict," he tweeted.

Alia Bhatt tweeted, "Love is love Such a momentous day in the history of our country!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!! #Section377 #PrideIndia."
Actor Arjun Kapoor said,"Sanity prevails for once we can believe we have some sensible decision makers and lawmakers available to this generation. #Section377 gone with the wind."
Mehta said their differences with Asrani aside, the scriptwriter has been an important figure in the fight to "gain justice for a community that has long been marginalised by law and society."