New Delhi (India), May 3, 2023: The Centre has agreed to establish a panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary to investigate administrative measures for addressing the concerns of same-sex couples, the Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday.
The CJI DY Chandrachud-led Constitution Bench, which is hearing a batch of petitions seeking legal sanction of same-sex marriage, was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the government was positive about addressing the issues, which would need coordination between more than one ministry.
Petitioners can submit their suggestions or the problems they are facing, which the committee will investigate and try to address, Mehta added. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi remarked that while administrative tweaking is welcome, it may not be a substitute for a legal solution. The Center has urged the apex court to leave the issue to Parliament, arguing that the law cannot be redrafted to allow same-sex marriage.
The Center’s decision to set up a panel has raised hopes for the LGBTQ+ community, which has long demanded legal recognition of their relationships. However, it remains to be seen how far the administrative measures will go in addressing the issues faced by same-sex couples and whether the Center will take steps toward legalizing same-sex marriages.
