Indian court declines to legalize same-sex marriage

 

India’s Supreme Court has declined to legalise same-sex marriages but said the rights of LGBTQ+ people must be upheld.

Five judges ruled they could not legalise such unions, which they said was parliament's job.

The court instead accepted the government's offer to set up a panel to consider granting social and legal rights and benefits to same-sex couples.

The court had heard 21 petitions.

Their verdict will dash the hopes of tens of millions of LGBTQ+ people in India.

The court had heard petitions in April and May, seeking to change the law to allow same-sex people to be legally married in India.

Petitioners for same-sex unions said not being able to marry violates their constitutional rights.

The government and religious leaders strongly opposed same-sex marriage, saying it was against India's culture.

In 2018, the Supreme Court had decriminalised gay sex in a landmark ruling.    BY MPASHO NEWS