New Delhi: A well-known gay couple voiced their disappointed following a setback in the same-sex marriage issue at the Supreme Court but vowed their commitment to continue the fight in the future.
Writer Ananya Kotia and lawyer Utkarsh Saxena exchanged rings in front of the Supreme Court on Wednesday and announced their engagement.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refrained from legalizing marriage equality, emphasizing that an individual’s right to enter into a union should not face restrictions based on sexual orientation. The five-judge bench delivered four distinct judgments, primarily differing on the issue of adoption rights for queer couples.
The judges directed the central government to move forward in establishing a committee to tackle practical issues faced by same-sex couples, including obtaining ration cards, addressing pension and gratuity matters, and resolving succession issues.
Ananya Kotia, in a recent post on X, expressed that the “legal setback” they experienced is now in the past tense, conveying a determination not to surrender.
“Yesterday hurt. Today, Utkarsh Saxena and I went back to the court that denied our rights, and exchanged rings. So this week wasn’t about a legal loss, but our engagement. We’ll return to fight another day,” Ananya Kotia said in the post.
The post features an image capturing the gay couple exchanging rings in a garden, set against the backdrop of the Supreme Court building’s dome.
The government on May 3 informed the court about its intention to establish a committee led by the cabinet secretary. The committee’s purpose would be to investigate administrative solutions to challenges encountered by same-sex couples, steering clear of the broader issue of marriage equality.
The bench delivered a split three-to-two verdict regarding adoption rights. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice SK Kaul acknowledged the right of queer couples to adopt, while Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Hima Kohli expressed dissent.