Delhi: Centre belittles same-sex marriage pleas, says no one dying for want of marriage certificate

The Centre on Monday sought adjournment from the Delhi High Court for 3 petitions seeking recognition of same-sex marriage.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before the court that as per a High Court circular on Covid, the court was hearing only ‘extremely urgent matter’.

Mehta said that the focus of the government is on ‘real urgent issues’ and nobody is dying because they don’t have a marriage certificate.

While the petitioners argued that the matters were sent by the Chief Justice’s Bench to the present Bench, the Court adjourned the petitions till July 6th.

Even though homosexuality has been decriminalised under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the state does not recognise same-sex marriages. The 3 petitions seek marriage equality under the Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act and Foreign Marriage Act. The Central government has opposed the petitions on grounds that there is no fundamental right to same-sex marriage and legal recognition can not be given by court.