The Indian government must take swift action to challenge a Supreme Court decision banning gay sex, its law minister has said.

A colonial-era law criminalising homosexuality will remain in effect in India, a top court said, dealing a blow to gay activists who have argued for years for the chance to live openly in India’s deeply conservative society.

A court has ordered municipal authorities to remove stray cows roaming the streets of New Delhi within a week, a news report said today.