Union government tells Delhi High Court same-sex partner should be able to make medical decisions
Published · Updated
What happened
The Union government informed the Delhi High Court on September 15 that a same-sex partner should be permitted to make medical decisions for the other partner. The statement was made in an active court matter concerning recognition of partner status in medical settings, without extending the government's position to marriage.
Why it matters
A court-recorded position by the Union government can influence how the Delhi High Court frames interim or final directions to hospitals and administrators. It also creates a public benchmark for whether the executive will back narrow partner-rights recognition outside the marriage framework.
In a September 15 submission before the Delhi High Court, the Union government said a same-sex partner should be allowed to take medical decisions for the other partner. The position stops short of revisiting marriage recognition, but it marks a documented executive stance on a concrete rights question after the Supreme Court's 2023 marriage ruling left such matters to Parliament and the government. The development matters because it can shape court orders, hospital practice, and the government's political messaging on social policy in the coming days.
Watch for
Delhi High Court upload of the Union government's written submission or order sheet in the medical-decision case by 2026-09-19 Additional Solicitor General statement in open court on whether the Union will support interim directions to hospitals by 2026-09-19 Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare clarification on hospital consent or next-of-kin protocols for unmarried partners by 2026-09-19 Bharatiya Janata Party official spokesperson briefing or press note on the government's court position by 2026-09-19
Sources
- The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos. | The Hindu · thehindu.com
- The Indian Express · indianexpress.com
Researched and written by AI from the sources listed, under published rules. How V³ Aware is made