Marriage Equality Case: Centre agrees to set up committee to look into issues faced by LGBTQIA+ community

New Delhi: Central government agreed to set up a committee headed by the Union Cabinet Secretary to look into issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community with regard to marriage equality. As Supreme Court resumed the hearing, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta informed the court that a committee headed will be constituted to look into the issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.

SG Mehta told the court that the issue was a genuine human concern and the government is positive on the same. He added that this would need coordination by different ministries and the committee will be open to the suggestions of the petitioners.

Supreme Court Constitution Bench begins hearing on a petition related to same-sex marriage.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apprises SC that a committee headed by the cabinet secretary will be constituted to look at the issues faced by the same-sex couple.

SG Mehta says…

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023

In the last hearing, as well as today, CJI DY Chandrachud noted that the issue requires changes to be done by the legislature and is out of the domain of the judiciary. He added that the court will be laying down a conceptual doctrine and the government should recognise the cohabitation of same-sex couples to take it a step forward.

The petitioners’ lawyers argued that they do not want to be treated as second-class or third-class citizens with something in hand as people want to get “married”. Answering the concerns, CJI Chandrachud stated that the constitutional court cannot run by feelings as the other side may also argue that there are people who oppose marriage equality. He said that they have to go with what the constitution is and what is constitutional morality and added that court as a facilitator can ensure that there is some development.

CJI DY Chandrachud: as a constitutional court we have an issue… if we go by what young people feel as constitutional court then we have to go by what others feel.. that is why we have to go with what constitution is and what is constitutional morality.. if we entertain this… pic.twitter.com/u8rKgeFTD5

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) May 3, 2023

CJI Chandrachud has asked the petitioners to submit their suggestions and the bench also suggested both the parties sit together and formulate the issues.