'Leave it to Parliament': Centre to SC on issue of same-sex marriage

The Centre has told the Supreme Court to leave it up to the Parliament to take a call on same-sex marriages.

The Centre was replying to a batch of petitions that have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to legalise same-sex marriages. Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud that dealing with the issue is a complex one. It has a profound social impact, he also said.

"The real question is who would take a call on what constitutes marriage and between whom," Mehta told the Bench.

He further added that there would be ramifications on several other statutes, which would need a debate in the society and also in various state legislatures.

The Bench has been hearing the case for the past five days.

Even the prayers of the petitioners are extremely vague. Societal acceptance is needed for recognition of an union and this has to be through the parliament. and if it is done by the court then it is detrimental to the LGBTQI since you are forcing something against the will of the people. We cannot forget the historical background which led to the institution of marriage, Mehta said.

All six major world religions overlap on marriage as identity, they consider marriage as a valuable institution where it lies at the heart of the institution and one principle that is followed is husband and wife complete each other and transforms into a new person.. children are sacred gift that is bestowed with marriage and procreation with marriage is not an archaic one, the Solicitor General argued.