Supreme Court reserves verdict in pleas for legal recognition of same-sex marriages

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict in a batch of pleas seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages in India [Supriyo and anr v Union of India]..A Constitution Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha concluded the hearing on the tenth day of the arguments. .During today's hearing, Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran who appeared for the petitioners, submitted that lack of recognition of same-sex marriage amounts to denial of equal protection of laws. To this the bench responded saying, "Court cannot give a declaration on the anticipation of how parliament will react."Ramachandran further argued against the submission that marriage has always been viewed by society as a union of man and woman which cannot be altered."This is violative of the equality principle.. this is discriminatory.. then for my client who is a Dalit and OBC girl.. for them notice provisions in SMA will make rights granted to them illusory," he said. .Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra shed light on the Foreign Marriage Act to argue that a couple married in a foreign land cannot become strangers when in India..Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy highlighted that over 50 countries in the world allow same-sex couple to adopt. "This more than countries which allows same sex marriage.. studies note that there is no adverse impact on children and that if there is no protection the young LGBTQ will be impacted," she explained. .Read live updates from today's hearing here. .Follow our detailed coverage of Day 1 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 2 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 3 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 4 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 5 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 6 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 7 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 8 of the hearing here and here.Follow our detailed coverage of Day 9 of the hearing here and here.Read about the 20 petitions seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage here.