Dipak Misra

Surendran also mentioned in a press conference, that these arrangements would be ready for pilgrims planning to visit the temple during the first five days in the Malayalam month of Thulam, which is likely to fall between the second and third week of October.

This is the second colonial-era law that the Supreme Court has struck down this month. The first being parts of Section 377, which criminalised ‘unnatural sex’ – widely seen as an anti-homosexual law.

Although India has made serious progress in battling the scourge of leprosy, it still accounts for 60% of new cases reported globally each year.

"Sexuality is a part of your identity and not your identity. Everyone takes their own time to accept themselves thereafter its a journey of self-awareness and owning your personality traits."

"Section 377 is irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary."

“I am what I am. So take me as I am. No one can escape from their individuality”, CJI Dipak Misra declared in the Supreme Court, striking down Section 377 as illegal and arbitrary.

Leprosy is arguably one of the most stigmatised and misunderstood diseases in India. In 2014, the country accounted for 58% of all leprosy cases in the world.

The Supreme Court has decided to extend the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with services until the Constitutional Bench passes its judgement.

It is essentially a document that sets out a patient's wishes regarding how they want to be treated if they are seriously ill. With this judgement, the right to die with dignity has been recognised as a fundamental right.

"Human beings have the right to die with dignity," the bench said while announcing the ruling.