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A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages. While Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, who was heading the bench pronouncing its verdict on 21 pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriages directed the Centre, states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that the queer community is not discriminated, Justices S Ravindra Bhat, PS Narasimha and Hima Kohli were against granting legal recognition to same-sex marriages.
The verdict was pronounced with 3:2 judgements (Justices S Ravindra Bhat, PS Narasimha and Hima Kohli : CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice SK Kaul).
ALSO READ | Supreme Court refuses to recognise same-sex marriage in 3:2 split verdict
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WHO SAID WHAT
- Senior advocate Geeta Luthara who appeared for some of the petitioners in the marriage equality case said, “Even if the right to marriage has not been given, CJI has said that the same bundle of rights which every married couple has should be available to same-sex couples.”
- One of the petitioners and LGBTQIA+ rights activist Harish Iyer said, “Though at the end, the verdict was not in our favour but so many observations(by Supreme Court) made were in our favour. They have also put the responsibility on Central govt and Central govt’s Solicitor General said so many things against us so it is important for us to go to our elected govt, MPs and MLAs and tell them we are as different as two people. War is underway…it might take sometime but we will get societal equality”
- One of the petitioners and activist Anjali Gopalan said, ” We have been fighting for long and will keep doing so. Regarding adoption also nothing was done, what the CJI said was very good regarding adoption but it’s disappointing that other justices didn’t agree…this is democracy but we are denying basic rights to our own citizens”
- Supreme Court Bar Association president Adish Aggarwala said, “I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court where they have not allowed same-sex marriage.”
