Celina Jaitly expresses disappointment regarding the Supreme Court ruling against same-sex marriages
The Supreme Court of India, in a 3-2 majority decision, has declined to provide legal recognition to same-sex marriages in the country. This ruling disappointed many, including actor Celina Jaitly, who has been an LGBT activist for two decades. In an interview with India Today, Celina expressed her disappointment with the Supreme Court’s decision and emphasized that the LGBT community is merely seeking the same rights as all other Indian citizens. She stressed that the right to marriage and family is a fundamental human right and called for the Parliament to amend the Special Marriages Act to make it gender-neutral.
Celina Jaitly also acknowledged a positive aspect of the ruling, as the court expressed its commitment to examining the rights and benefits that could be granted to queer couples, which she sees as a step in the right direction. She concluded by noting that societal change takes time, and progress is gradual.
In the Supreme Court’s verdict, a five-judge Constitution bench ruled against providing constitutional validity to same-sex marriages in a 3:2 decision, stating that the matter should be addressed by Parliament through legislation. The verdict was delivered by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha. While LGBTQ+ activists had hoped for a favorable outcome, there were also individuals who supported the court’s decision, believing that legalizing same-sex marriage would disrupt the social fabric of the country.
