NOBODY IS DYING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE - CENTRE

27th May 2021

A Delhi HC bench comprising Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Justice Amit Bansal recently adjourned a batch of three petitions regarding legislation and recognition of same of sex marriage under various Acts to July 6th.

SG Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government while opposing the urgent hearing of the pleas, urged the bench not to hear the matter. They did not qualify as an urgent matter during the critical situation of Covid 19.

Adv Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for one of the petitioners, urged that the matter should be heard and that the community is struggling to get admissions to the hospital. To which SG Mehta replied, "People don't need a marriage certificate to get admission in a hospital; nobody is dying because they don't have a marriage certificate".

The first petition contented Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The Second petition sought recognition under the Special Marriage Act and the Foreign Marriage Act. The Third plea filed by two men who got married in the USA sought registration and acceptance of their marriage under the Foreign Marriage Act.

Author - Papiha Ghoshal