The Allahabad High Court has granted protection to a same-sex couple in a live-in relationship, holding that two consenting adults have a fundamental right under Article 21 to live together peacefully, irrespective of their sexual orientation or of social and family opposition. Relying on Navtej Singh Johar and Supriyo, the Court held that while legal recognition of same-sex marriage is a matter for the legislature, the absence of marital status gives no third party or authority the licence to attack the dignity or physical safety of adult citizens.
A same-sex couple has asked the Karnataka High Court to read the word ‘spouse’ in the Income Tax Act’s gift-exemption provision to include them, after one partner’s gift of a gold-bracelet heirloom to the other was treated as taxable income. The Centre has opposed the plea, arguing that ‘spouse’ takes its meaning from a legally recognised marriage, that the classification rests on marital status rather than sexual orientation, and that recognising same-sex marriage was left by the Supreme Court to Parliament.
In a poignant act of love and resistance, a gay couple, Ananya Kotia and Utkarsh Saxena, exchanged engagement rings right outside the Supreme Court. Their engagement came a day after the apex court decided against legalizing same-sex marriages. However, the court did underscore the country’s duty to recognize and protect LGBTQ relationships from discrimination. This […]
India’s apex court, the Supreme Court, is on the cusp of delivering a pivotal judgment concerning the legal recognition of same-sex marriages in the nation. This decision is being keenly awaited, as it stands to redefine the rights and status of queer couples in India. The bench, presided over by Chief Justice of India DY […]