A case for marriage equality
The HinduOn March 12, the Centre filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court frowning upon same-sex marriage. More than 20 retired judges issued a statement saying that legalisation of same-sex marriage will “strike at the very root of the family system” and that “such a sensitive issue concerning the society at large be debated in the Parliament and State Legislature as well.” The Union Law Minister argued that the issue should be left to the “wisdom of the people.” And law professors such as Tahir Mahmood and G.S. As the Union government has made its position clear on the legalisation of same-sex marriage and holds the view that queer people like me will wreak havoc on social institutions with our demands, Parliament will never enact such a law. Queer people are demanding equal rights, not just of marriage, but of horizontal reservation and protection from natal families. But despite being a faulty institution, marriage is a legitimate legal need in order to file taxes jointly, inherit property, open bank accounts, and choose nominees for insurance policies.