New Delhi: The Supreme Court told the Centre on Thursday it must provide a way for same-sex couples to have their basic social rights, such as opening bank accounts or nominating partners in insurance policies, reports NDTV.
The court heard a set of petitions demanding the recognition and protection of same-sex marriages. The petitioners argued that denying them their right to marry breached their fundamental rights and resulted in discrimination and exclusion.
The court asked the government how it was going to address these issues without legalising such marriages. It told the Solicitor General to come back with a response on the next hearing.
NDTV quoted Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, "We take your point that if we enter this arena, this will be an arena of the legislature. So, now what? What does the government want to do with 'cohabitory' relations? And how a sense of security and social welfare is made? And to ensure that such relations are not ostracised?"
Court made the remarks a day after Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said that it is the parliament and not a court of law that should debate the issue of same-sex marriage. But he also added that he does not want to make it a conflict between the judiciary and the government.
The Union government has submitted that same-sex marriages must not be legalised, stating that such marriages are not "comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children."