Ritika
The Supreme Court has recently directed the listing of petitions related to the legalization of same-sex marriage before a constitutional bench. The matter will be heard by a formation of five judges on April 18. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued on behalf of the Central Government in court and put forward the argument that citizens are already entitled to the right of love, freedom of expression, and choice and such rights should not be interpreted as granting the right to marry. He further argued that the recognition of same-sex marriage will lead to questions regarding adoption and related neuropsychology issues. In its statement, the Supreme Court also clarified that children adopted by gay couples need not necessarily end up being gay themselves.
In response to this decision, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju of Delhi also spoke on the matter and declared that the government is not interfering with anyone’s personal life in any way. He added that the government has never questioned, hindered, or controlled any person’s right to their personal activities. This statement came after the government was accused of attempting to control the personal liberties of its citizens. Overall, the Central Government and the Supreme Court are both acknowledging the existence of the right to choose one’s own lifestyle and rights and are attempting to provide fair and equal rights to same-sex couples.
The potential impact of the Supreme Court’s decisions on the Indian society as a whole cannot be overlooked as it will most likely revolutionize how the country looks at same-sex relationships. Such a move would also benefit marginalized communities such as LGBTQ people who have been fighting for the recognition of their relationships for a long time now. A positive verdict from the Constitution Bench is yet to be seen but this decision has surely given hope to many who were involved in the fight for equal rights for all.
The battle for same-sex marriage in India has seen an extensive amount of debate as well as protests among various activists and members of the public. This recent move by the Supreme Court is an indication of the steps taken to finally recognize and validate same-sex relationships in the country. This case could very well be the deciding factor in whether or not same-sex marriages will be legalized with the Supreme Court itself upholding the status quo until it makes its decision on April 18. Only time will tell if the Constitution Bench will come to a favorable decision but till then, all we can do is wait and hope for the best.
