India has 25 lakh gays; 7% are HIV positive

India has about 25 lakh gays and of them at least 7% are HIV positive, according to data submitted to the Supreme Court.

The central government on Tuesday submitted the figures after the court had sought for details while hearing a petition on the decriminalisation of gay sex in India.

In an affidavit filed before the court, the Department of AIDS Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said "the population of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) was estimated to be 25 lakhs in India."

In addition to that, at least 1.75 lakh gays were HIV infected and there is also HIV prevalence of 4.60 - 4.94 per cent among Female Sex Workers.

Notably, the affidavit informed that HIV prevalence was highest among drug addicts, with the figures showing 9.42 - 10.30 per cent.

The data showed that Maharashtra had the highest number of MSM people, estimated at 99,533 followed by Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court was Tuesday told that the government's AIDS control programme was protecting some two lakh gays in India. And it is further working to soon cover another 4 lakh MSM.

Last month, the court criticised the government for its changing stand on the issue of decriminalising gay sex.

The Delhi High Court ruling in 2009 overturned a 148-year-old colonial law which described gay relationship as an "unnatural offence".

The Supreme Court is hearing challenges from political, social and religious organisations opposing the new law.