On Wednesday, the federal government informed the Supreme Court that a Cabinet Secretary-led committee will investigate same-sex couples’ issues without legalizing their marriage.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed the five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud that the government supports exploring administrative actions in this regard.
“The issue has some genuine human concerns,” Mehta added. Positive government. This requires ministry coordination. A cabinet secretary-led committee will address petitioners’ suggestions.”
CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Ravindra Bhat, Justice Hima Kohli, and Justice PS Narasimha form the Constitution Bench.
IN COURT?
Mehta informed the bench that this would take time and ministry collaboration. He added petitioners can suggest administrative steps.
CJI Chandrachud stated, “The petitioners can submit suggestions between today and the next hearing so that they can apply their minds as well to it.”
Senior attorney Abhishek Manu Singhvi informed the bench that the issue is more nuanced and requires legal interpretation. Justice Ravindra Bhat remarked, “Sometimes beginnings are small.”
“This is without prejudice to everyone’s rights, even if marriage rights are granted, there will be many changes in the legislative and administrative domain,” Justice SK Kaul noted. The government will address gay companionship issues, but not marriage.”
“I speak here mostly for young people in the small towns who want to be married,” said senior counsel Menaka Guruswamy, representing the petitioners. Don’t leave.”
The CJI stated that the SC had a problem “if we go by what young people feel” as a constitutional court. “If we engage this issue, the other side will hurl at us what the country wants, and we cannot go into that. The court can help develop this social institution. We don’t want you with nothing if we don’t recognize same-sex marriage.”
Wednesday was the seventh hearing day. Indian same-sex marriage applications are being heard by the Supreme Court.
