Centre opposes plea in Delhi HC for live streaming of proceedings

In Delhi High Court the Centre has opposed the petition seeking live streaming of proceedings on petitions for recognition of same sex marriages under the special Hindu and foreign marriage laws and submitted that a majority of Indian population is not very much affected by the present matter and the proceedings thereofThe affidavit filed in this regard stated that an attempt of the applicants is to create a dramatic impression of the proceedings before the Court and to win sympathyComparing India with live streaming of court proceedings in countries like the USA UK Australia Brazil China and South Africa is misplaced and also the International Court of Justice affidavit readIndian courts and justice administration are not competing with that of a system in practice in any other country The sole intention of the applicant is to create a hallucination of public interest and to make the matter sensational which is only to be discouraged by this court stated the Centres affidavitAppearing for the petitioner Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul objected to the Government of India affidavit and said using words like sympathy hallucination etc are not right Its clearly demeaning the rights of samesex couples that were recognized by the Supreme CourtThe Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla also showed displeasure with the words used in the said affidavit and said If there is anything objectionable in the affidavit you dont have to file it Such affidavit from Union Ministry is not done Dont do a mindless exercise Later the Bench asked the Centre to file a better affidavit while adjourning the matter for August 20The Delhi High Court is examining a batch of petitions filed by several samesex couples seeking a declaration recognising samesex marriages under the special Hindu and foreign marriage laws The petitioner stated that it is a matter of national importance and live streaming can affect a larger populationEarlier the Court had issued notice to the Central Government wherein the petitioner stated that live streaming of proceedings is necessary as the matter is concerned around seven to eight per cent of the total population of the nationThe Court earlier also issued notice on two petitions in this regard The first petition was filed by two females who have already solemnized their marriage and the second petition was filed by a transgender who has undergone a sex reassignment surgeryThe Centre has earlier told Delhi High Court that the acceptance of the institution of marriage between two individuals of the same gender is neither recognized nor accepted in any uncodified personal laws or any codified statutory lawsThe Centre in its reply on various petitions sought recognition of samesex marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act the Special Marriage Act and the Foreign Marriage Act had opposed it saying that pleas are unsustainable untenable and misplacedThe Centre in its reply said that marriage is essentially a socially recognized union of two individuals which is governed either by uncodified personal laws or codified statutory lawsOne of the petitioners also urged the Delhi High Court to issue a declaration to the effect that since Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1956 does not distinguish between Homosexual and Heterosexual couples the right of same sex couples to marry should be recognized under the said ActThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever