HC seeks Centre’s response on plea to live-stream proceedings on same-sex marriages

‘The petitions are of national importance, especially for the LGBTQ community’

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Centre to respond to a plea by LGBTQ couples seeking live streaming of proceedings on a batch of petitions to recognise same-sex marriages in the country.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla was hearing a batch of petitions filed by several same-sex couples, seeking a declaration recognising their marriages under the Special Marriage Act, Hindu Marriage Act, and the Foreign Marriage Act. The High Court is currently seized of eight petitions on the issue.

The plea sought a direction to make arrangements to live-stream the final arguments of this case through YouTube or any other platform.

During a previous hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for three applicants had said the issue raised in the petitions was of national importance, especially for the LGBTQ community, which constitutes nearly 8% of the country’s total population.

Mr. Kaul sought live streaming of the court proceedings in the matter, saying a good section of the public was eagerly looking forward to the outcome of these cases and live streaming would enable the court proceedings to reach a larger population.

Some High Courts, such as the High Court of Gujarat, currently have an official YouTube channel where they live-stream the proceedings.

Earlier, the Centre had opposed changes to the existing marriage laws to recognize same-sex marriage, saying such interference would cause “complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country”.