The Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that it is agreeable to set up a committee to be headed by the cabinet secretary.
The Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that it is agreeable to set up a committee to be headed by the cabinet secretary to examine the administrative steps it can take to address some of the concerns in connection with basic social benefits for same-sex couples.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted before a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that in the context of last hearing, the issue was human concerns and the discussion was something that could be done administratively and he has taken instructions.
Mehta said the “government is positive” about taking certain administrative steps and the government is of the view that this would need coordination between more than one ministry, therefore a committee headed by no less than the cabinet secretary will be constituted.
Mehta said counsel for petitioners can give him their suggestions or the problems which they’re facing, which the committee can examine and will try and see that so far as legally permissible, they are addressed. Senior advocate AM Singhvi, representing one of the petitioners, objected to the use of the term “administrative” by Mehta, saying that some cosmetic changes would not be enough when the petitioners have been asking for changes in the legal regime. The hearing was in progress.