Plea seeks live streaming of same-sex marriage proceedings

One-liner: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's response on a plea seeking live streaming of proceedings on petitions to recognise same-sex marriages under the special, Hindu and foreign marriage laws.

Hearing on Feb 3: A bench granted time to the Centre's counsel to take instructions on the issue and file a reply, listing the matter for further hearing on Feb 3.

• The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by several same-sex couples, seeking a declaration recognising same-sex marriages under the special, Hindu and foreign marriage laws.
• The advocate, representing some of the petitioners, submitted that in view of the rights involved, live streaming of proceedings is essential as it concerns 7 to 8% of the total population of the country.

Centre's reply sought: The HC also issued notice and sought the Centre's reply on two separate petitions, one filed by two lesbian women, who have already solemnised their marriage in Feb 2018, and the other by a transgender person who has undergone a sex reassignment surgery and entered into a civil union with her husband in South Africa.

Two more pleas: The two other pleas are, one filed by two women seeking to get married and the other filed by two men, who got married in the US, but were denied registration of wedding under the Foreign Marriage Act (FMA).

Need to know: The petition filed by some equal rights activists contended that homosexual sex has been decriminalised by the apex court but same-sex marriages are still not being allowed under the provisions of the HMA.

• Two women, aged 47 years and 36 years, have contended that not being allowed to get married has denied them several rights - like owning a house, opening a bank account and family life insurance
• The Centre has opposed same-sex marriage on the ground that marriage in India is not just a union of two individuals but an institution between biological man and woman.

Source: PTI