Lawyer's body opposes legal right to same-sex marriages, passes resolution

New Delhi: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has opposed granting legal rights and recognition to same-sex marriages. Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said a resolution has been passed by the bar after meeting with representatives of all State Bar Councils.

The Bar Council also said that issues pertaining to social and religious connotations should typically be dealt by courts through the doctrine of deference. It also said that the vast majority believes that any decision taken by the Supreme Court in the favour of petitioners will be treated to be against the culture and socio-religious structure of the country.

The resolution said that as per documented history, ever since the inception of human civilisation and culture, marriage has been typically accepted and categorized as a union of biological man and woman for the twin purpose of procreation and recreation. "In such a background, it would be catastrophic to overhaul something as fundamental as the conception of marriage by any Law Court, howsoever well-intentioned it may be," reported ANI.

"The legislature being truly reflective of the will of the people is best suited to deal with such sensitive issues. Every responsible and prudent citizen of the country is worried about the future of his/her children after coming to know about the pendency of this matter before the Supreme Court. More than 99.9% of people of the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage in our country," added the resolution.

"The Bar is the mouthpiece of the common men and, therefore, this meeting is expressing their anxiety over this highly sensitive issue. The Joint Meeting is of the clear opinion that if the Supreme Court shows any indulgence in this matter, it will result in destabilising the social structure of our country in the coming days. The Apex Court is requested and expected to appreciate and respect the sentiments and mandate of the mass of the country," said BCI in a statement.

A Supreme Court bench comprising the CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Ravindra Bhat, Justice Hima Kohli, and Justice PS Narasimha is dealing with a batch of petitions demanding that the judiciary grant marriage equality rights to the LGBTQI community.

The Centre has opposed the petitions.