India’s Government Open to Granting Legal Rights to Same-Sex Couples: Solicitor General Informs Supreme Court

The Indian government has agreed to consider granting certain legal rights to same-sex couples, according to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s announcement to the Supreme Court. The court had asked Mehta last week to seek government instructions on whether executive guidelines could be issued to enable same-sex couples to secure their social welfare. In response, the government is open to establishing a committee coordinated by more than one ministry and headed by the cabinet secretary to examine the possibility of granting rights to same-sex couples without recognising their relationship as “marriage”. Various lawyers involved in the case also gave their input at the hearing.