Same-Sex Marriage Recognition: CJI Led Constitution Bench To Hear Plea On 18 April

A Supreme Court Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud will hear the bunch of petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages on 18th April, 2023.

The bench will also includes Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Hima Kohli.

The petitions sought legal recognition of same-sex marriages, arguing that the right to marry the person of one’s choice should be extended to LGBTQIA+ citizens as well.

The Central government has opposed the petitions filed before the Supreme Court by gay couples.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Central government said that living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals is not comparable to the Indian family unit concept which involves biological man and biological woman with children born out of such wedlock.

Similar sentiments have been expressed by the Islamic religious body Jamiat-Ulama-I-Hind, which has stated that notions such as same-sex marriage originate in western cultures with radical atheistic worldviews and should not be imposed on India.

However, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has backed the petitioners’ case, stating that same-sex couples should be granted adoption and succession rights.