Law For Civil Union Of LGBTQ+ Couples: Congress Poll Manifesto
Congress released its election manifesto today. Among the notable promises, one striking poll promise is party”s guarantee of formulating a law aimed at recognising the civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.
“After wide consultation, Congress will bring a law to recognise civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community,” the party said in the press conference. The party”s guarantee came in observance of the Supreme Court”s decision last year, wherein the apex Court refused to legalise same-sex marriage, however, acknowledged the various forms of discrimination faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.
It was recently on October 17, India’s top court – a five-judge constitutional bench led by the Chief Justice – ruled a batch of petitions on whether the queer or other homosexual couples should marry under the legal provisions of Indian Constitution. The bench on producing the judgement refused to legally recognise same-sex marriage within the country by a 3-2 majority and said it is the legislature’s discretion to consider the matter.
However, the court said: “The freedom of all persons, including queer couples, to enter into a union is protected by Part III of the Constitution.” Adding further, the top court said that the discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation will be violation on Article 15.
Titled as the “Nyay Patra’, Congress poll promise was unveiled by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, former party presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal at party”s headquarters.
Congress chief said that the manifesto will be remembered for the “delivery of justice”. We are focusing on five Nyays with 25 guarantees, Mallikarjun Kharge said.
A committee chaired by former Finance Minister P Chidambaram prepared the manifesto. Broad theme of the manifesto is “justice”, Chidambaram said. Congress leader added that “work, wealth and welfare,” the three powerful words are the theme of party.
