In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has ruled against legal recognition for same-sex marriages in the country, a verdict that has sparked disappointment within the LGBTQ+ community and activists, including actor and activist Celina Jaitly. The ruling was delivered by a five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court, with a 3-2 majority.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court’s decision emphasized that it’s the responsibility of the Indian Parliament to formulate legislation on the issue, thereby denying constitutional validity to same-sex marriages. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha, delivered the verdict that had been reserved since May 11 of this year.
Celina Jaitly, who has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights for two decades, expressed her disappointment with the ruling. In an interview with India Today, she underscored the importance of marriage rights, stating, “The marriage ruling by the Supreme Court is definitely a disappointment. Something that I have said in my journey as an LGBT activist for the past 20 years is that the LGBT community is not asking for a different subset of rights. They are only asking for rights that every other citizen of India has. The right to marriage, a family, is the most important right that a human being can possess. So I sincerely hope that the Parliament will upgrade the special marriages act and make it gender-neutral.”
However, amidst the disappointment, Jaitly acknowledged a glimmer of hope in the Supreme Court’s statement that it would remain committed to examining the rights and benefits that can be granted to queer couples. She commented, “I think this is a step in the right direction. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling has drawn mixed reactions across the nation, with activists and LGBTQ+ individuals hoping for a favorable outcome that would have recognized their rights. On the other hand, there are those who supported the current verdict, arguing that legalizing same-sex marriage would have a significant impact on the social fabric of the country.
This decision is a critical moment in the ongoing conversation about LGBTQ+ rights and the legal framework in India, and it underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to advocate for equal rights and inclusivity within the country’s legal system.
Sources By Agencies
