On Thursday, January 9, the Supreme Court dismissed a series of petitions seeking a review of its October 2023 ruling that declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages.
“We find no error apparent on the face of the record. Furthermore, both judgments reflect views consistent with the law, and thus no interference is warranted. Therefore, the review petitions are dismissed,” a five-judge bench comprising Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, B V Nagarathna, P S Narasimha, and Dipankar Datta said.
The bench noted that the judges had thoroughly reviewed the judgments authored by Justice (retired) S. Ravindra Bhat on behalf of himself and Justice (retired) Hima Kohli, along with the concurring opinion of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, which formed the majority decision.
In October 2023, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on a clutch of petitions demanding the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The apex court bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha, refused to recognise same-sex marriage as legal in India.
In a 3-2 verdict, the apex court opinioned that there was no constitutional or fundamental right to civil unions. It left it for the Parliament and State legislature to decide whether same-sex marriage should be given legal status and to formulate legislation on it.
