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Journalism of Courage
Expressing his support for same-sex marriages, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee Thursday said everyone has the right to choose their life partner and criticised the Centre for “dillydallying” the issue.
“The matter is sub judice. So I would not like to comment on it. India is a democratic country and everyone has got the right to choose their own life partner. Love has no religion, caste, or creed…,” said Banerjee.
“…If I want to choose a life partner of my choice, if I am a man and I am fond of a man, If I am a woman and I am fond of a woman – whatever combination that is, no authority can make a comment on that,” Banerjee, who is West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, added.
His remarks came at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing petitions seeking recognition of same-sex marriages.
The TMC national general secretary also said that he was certain that the Supreme Court would rule in favour of democracy and the “ethos that we take pride in and the diversity that unites India”.
Responding to the Centre’s opposition on the matter, Banerjee said, “The Centre is deliberately delaying the matter. This tactic keeps the matter dangling for no reason. They could have done that in the last seven years if they were serious about seeking an opinion. They want to dilly-dally on the matter for no reason”.
Since Tuesday, a Supreme Court Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, has been hearing a set of petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages.
While the Centre, in one of its affidavits filed, termed the petitions a reflection of an “urban elitist” view for the purpose of social acceptance, the apex court said that there was no data to back the government’s contention. The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriage.
CJI Chandrachud on Thursday wondered whether the law has “progressed” to accommodate such relationships, and said that once Section 377 had been decriminalised, perhaps the stage had been set to acknowledge a more “stable emotional relationship”. The CJI’s remarks came as Senior Advocate A M Singhvi, representing the government, argued how to interpret the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954, to provide rights under it to same-sex couples too.
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