India's army chief said on Thursday (10) that gay sex and adultery would not be tolerated in the army's ranks, months after a landmark court ruling struck down colonial-era prohibitions against homosexuality and infidelity.
After a decades-long campaign by activists the Supreme Court last year decriminalised Section 377 -- also know as "unnatural offences" -- and the adultery law from the statue books.
But General Bipin Rawat said the military would not permit such acts.
"In the Army, it is not acceptable," Rawat told reporters at a press conference when asked about the court verdicts.
"The Army is conservative. The Army is a family," he said.
India's estimated million-strong army and other armed forces are governed by their own laws that restrict certain constitutional rights enjoyed by civilians.
Under the Army Act, both homosexuality and adultery are punishable offences, with jail terms of up to 10 years.
There are no figures on homosexuality in the armed forces.
But media reports show that the army is increasingly concerned with adultery -- defined as "stealing the affection of a brother officer's wife".
The accused are tried by army courts.
Last month a court martial found a Brigadier guilty of having an affair with a Colonel's wife.
He was dismissed from the service and sentenced to three years in prison.
In November, a Colonel was sentenced to two years' loss of seniority after he was found guilty of having a romantic relationship with another officer's wife.
India's Supreme Court overturned the British colonial-era laws after campaigns by activists, who termed both laws as discriminatory and against the fundamental right to equality.
Section 377 was introduced in 1861 and carried up to 10 years in prison. Although it was rarely enforced, it was often used to harass and intimidate India's gay community.
The adultery law carried up to five years jail time for a man found guilty of having sex with a married woman without the permission of her husband.
The court had said the 158-year-old law treated women as "chattel of husbands".
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)