Ahead of the Supreme Court starting the hearings on petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages, former Union minister and Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal said while the Supreme Court is ready to hear the case, is society ready as well? He called it a tough call.
“Same-sex marriage: Supreme Court ready to hear. Is society ready to listen? Tough one!” Sibal tweeted.
A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, PS Narasimha, and Hima Kohli started hearing the pleas on Tuesday.
While Sibal asks whether “society is ready to listen”, the Union government has already opposed the petitions, calling it “an urban elitist concept” far removed from the social ethos of the country.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also opposed same-sex marriages, saying children raised by same-sex parents may have limited exposure to traditional gender role models, which could impact their understanding of gender roles and gender identity.
The NCPCR said the exposure of these children would be limited and their overall personality growth would be affected. Opposing the petitions, the NCPCR said giving children to same-sex couples will be “exposing children to struggle just for experimentation”.
In an application filed before the Supreme Court on Monday, NCPCR said, “Children to be raised by persons, having issues would be like exposing children to struggle just for experimentation and the same is not in the interest of children as every individual have same human rights and it applies to children for being raised safely.”
The NCPCR has pleaded that “children may be saved by this Hon'ble Court from being subjected to experimentation or being treated as subject”.
