Centre Asks SC To Consider Leaving Same-Sex Marriage Issues To Parliament

New Delhi: The Centre asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to consider referring questions raised in the petitions seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriages to Parliament. The Centre's Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, told a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that the apex court is dealing with a "very complex subject" with a "profound social impact." "The real question is who decides what constitutes marriage and between whom," Mehta said on the fifth day of the hearing. He told the bench, which also included Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli, and P S Narasimha, that there would be ramifications on several other statutes that would necessitate a debate in society and in various state legislatures.

Not Granting Legal Sanction Would Be 'Clear Discrimination': Petitioners To SC

The petitioners seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriage on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to recognise their right to marry saying there can't be a situation where the court will say it will give nothing as it can't give everything. Not granting legal sanction to same-sex marriage would amount to "clear discrimination" on the ground of sexual orientation of a person and this may led to "gay brain-drain" where such persons will be forced to go to other countries for enjoying the fruits of marriage and other consequential benefits, said senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, himself a gay.

Kirpal, appearing for the petitioners' side, told a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that seven per cent of India's GDP will be affected if the LGBTQIA++ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, and ally) are denied this fundamental right.

"There can't be a situation where the court will say that as it can't give everything, so it will give nothing," he told the bench, also comprising justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha.

During the fourth day's hearing in the matter, Kirpal said non-recognition of same-sex marriage will lead to a situation where gays and lesbians will be unwillingly tied in an unworkable marriage. He said the LGBTQIA+ community cannot be left at the "mercy" of Parliament, which "failed them for 75 long years".

One of the lawyers appearing for the petitioners' side said 12 out of the G20 countries, including the EU, have permitted same sex marriages and around 34 countries of the world have also done that so India should not be "lagging" behind.

The hearing in the matter remained inconclusive and would continue on Wednesday. Kirpal's name for elevation as a judge of the Delhi High Court is still pending with the Centre despite the apex court Collegium reiterating his name for judgeship.