Indian activists hopeful as top court hears challenge to gay sex ban

Anwesh Pokkuluri, Romel Barel and Krishna Reddy M, petitioners challenging Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises homosexuality, pose outside the premises of the Supreme Court in New Delhi, India, July 10, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's top court on Tuesday began hearing arguments challenging a colonial-era law banning homosexuality, and activists said they were optimistic it would be overturned it despite opposition from some ruling lawmakers.

The Supreme Court hearing comes around five years after it reinstated a ban on gay sex - still considered taboo by many in socially conservative India - following a four-year period of decriminalisation.