India’s top court rejects appeal to legalise same-sex marriage

India’s Supreme Court has declined an appeal to legalise same-sex marriages in a blow for LGBTQ rights in the world’s most populous country.

India’s Supreme Court has declined an appeal to legalise same-sex marriages in a blow for LGBTQ rights in the world’s most populous country.

The top court announced the ruling on Oct 17 after hearing arguments in April and May, with three of five justices finding that the issue should be decided by parliament.

“The court, in the exercise of the power of judicial review, must steer clear of matters, particularly those impinging on policy, which fall in the legislative domain,” Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud said.

The court instead endorsed a government proposal to create a panel to consider granting certain rights and benefits to same-sex couples.

Chandrachud said the state should provide some legal protections to same-sex unions, arguing that denying them “benefits and services” granted to heterosexual couples violates their fundamental rights.