Central Government Establishes Committee to Address Queer Community Concerns Following Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage
The Central Government has formed a six-member committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, as per the Supreme Court's directive in "Supriyo v Union of India". The committee includes Secretaries from various ministries to address issues concerning the queer community. It is tasked with examining and making recommendations on ensuring non-discrimination in access to goods, services, and social welfare, preventing violence and coercion against queer individuals, safeguarding against involuntary medical treatments, and addressing other relevant issues.
This initiative follows the Supreme Court's decision not to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages but to protect LGBTQIA+ couples from harassment. The Court mandated the formation of the committee to define the entitlements of queer couples, comprising experts and representatives from the community. Stakeholder consultations, including marginalized groups and government entities, are required before finalizing decisions.
The committee's considerations include treating partners in queer relationships as family for ration card purposes, enabling joint bank accounts and nomination rights, addressing medical decision-making, jail visitation, funeral arrangements, and legal matters such as succession rights and financial benefits.
The committee's recommendations, once finalized, will be implemented administratively by the Union Government and the governments of States and Union Territories, as per the Supreme Court's judgment.