The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a committee led by the cabinet secretary would be established to look into administrative measures for resolving some of the issues raised by same-sex couples without addressing the issue of legalising their union.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the five-judge Constitution bench presided over by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that the government is in favour of looking into administrative possibilities for validating same-sex marriage.
He informed the court, which also included justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli, and P S Narasimha, that more than one ministry will need to coordinate on this.
Mehta stated that the petitioners may present their suggestions on the subject of examining what administrative steps can be taken in this regard on the seventh day of the hearing in the matter.
The apex court questioned the Centre when it heard the case on April 27, whether same-sex couples could receive social welfare benefits without having their marriages formally recognised.
The court raised the issue after noting that the Centre had a “corresponding duty” to take into account the social repercussions of its acceptance of the right to cohabitation of same-sex partners as a fundamental right.
Also Read: We Are In A Terrible Crisis: Go First CEO To Staff
