Minority groups express ‘concerns’ over same-sex marriage

Several minority organisations have written to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud to voice their opposition to same-sex marriage, a topic being reviewed by the Supreme Court, citing their religious convictions.

Similar opinions have been expressed by one organisation, the Communion of Churches in India, in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu.

The Centre has also opposed in the Supreme Court a batch of pleas seeking legal validation of same-sex marriage, and argued that doing so would completely upset the delicate balance between personal law and widely held social norms.

Sayed Salman Chishty of the Chishty Foundation in Ajmer has expressed to Chandrachud his “concerns and reservations,” stating that any legal recognition of same-sex marriage will be in conflict with Indian religious, social, and moral values and wreak “havoc” with the delicate balance of individual rights and widely held social norms.

“In India’s secular yet multi-faith context, which is already recognised as the most diverse country in the world, this is indeed a very complex and sensitive issue that needs careful deliberation and understanding before opinions are made part of national policies,” he said.

Chishty cited Islamic beliefs to oppose the plea seeking legal validation for such a marriage.

Prakash P Thomas of the Communion of Churches in India expressed “shock” at such a plea.

Chishty opposed the argument for such a marriage’s legal recognition by citing Islamic principles.

The Communion of Churches in India’s Prakash P Thomas expressed “astonishment” at such a request.

He insisted that the President maintain the status quo on marriage because, in accordance with Christian doctrine, marriage is a divine institution created by God and cannot recognise the union of two homosexuals as marriage.

According to Jain guru Acharya Lokesh, legalising same-sex unions will go against the culture of India’s traditional, values-based society. According to him, marriage is the foundation of reproduction for growing the family tree in Indian culture, particularly among Jains.

A Pasmanda (backward) Muslim group’s Pravez Hanif shared the sentiment of these organisations.

(With inputs from PTI)