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In Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court interpreted 'sex' in Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination) to include sexual orientation and gender identity, ensuring that discrimination based on these grounds violates constitutional guarantees of equality.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Navtej Singh Johar (2018) inclusive interpretation of Article 15: (a) Context: Challenge to Section 377 IPC criminalizing consensual same-sex relations between adults, (b) Supreme Court holding (5-judge bench unanimous): (i) Interpreted 'sex' in Article 15 to include sexual orientation, gender identity, (ii) Discrimination based on sexual orientation violates Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth), (iii) Also violates Article 14 (arbitrary classification), Article 19 (expression of identity), Article 21 (privacy, dignity, autonomy), (c) Applications: (i) Decriminalization: Foundation for subsequent cases on marriage, adoption, anti-discrimination for LGBTQ+ persons, (ii) Institutional reforms: Directions for sensitization of police, judiciary, healthcare providers, (iii) Legislative follow-up: Ongoing debate on civil unions, marriage equality, anti-discrimination law, (d) Rationale: (i) Substantive equality: Formal equality insufficient; must address structural, intersectional inequalities affecting LGBTQ+ persons, (ii) Inclusive interpretation: 'Sex' in Article 15 interpreted expansively to include sexual orientation, gender identity, ensuring substantive equality, (iii) Constitutional Morality: Prevails over social morality; constitutional values protect minorities against majoritarian impulses, (e) Challenges: (i) Social acceptance: Legal reform requires accompanying social education, community engagement, (ii) Implementation: Ensuring rights realized in practice, not just declared in judgments, (f) Illustrates transformative constitutionalism: Inclusive interpretation of Article 15 ensures protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity; Constitutional Morality guides interpretation of rights in evolving social contexts.