Singapore's High Court has rejected another legal challenge against a ban on gay sex.

Section 377A of Singapore's Penal Code was inherited from the city state's days under British rule but is rarely enforced.

Legal challenges were brought by a retired doctor, a DJ and an LGBT rights advocate, who argued that the ban is unconstitutional and effectively criminalises gay and bisexual people. 

Their cases were first considered by the High Court last year before being dismissed in a hearing behind closed doors on Monday. 

The lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, Roy Tan Seng Kee, told The Star that an appeal was being considered. 

Singapore has previously resisted attempts to overturn the law, with the Court of Appeal dismissing two constitutional challenges in 2014.

The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has in the past spoken of its opposition to repealing the law.

In 2018, when one of Monday's plaintiffs commenced legal proceedings, it said it believes that "homosexual lifestyle is not only harmful for individuals, but also for families and society as a whole".

"The Bible clearly and categorically prohibits homosexual behaviour because it is a perversion of the way in which God has ordered human sexual relationships," the NCCS said.

"The repeal of Section 377A would result in the normalisation and promotion of this lifestyle, which in turn would lead to undesirable moral and social consequences, a slippery slope as seen in some countries taking this step."