GUWAHATI: The central government has established a six-member committee to investigate and propose solutions to various issues affecting the queer community, in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling from last October.
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The Court's decision came after it deliberated on matters concerning same-sex marriages and urged the government to create a committee to address the needs of the queer community.
Outlined in a notification published in the gazette by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Tuesday, the committee has been assigned a comprehensive mandate.
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Its primary objective is to devise strategies that ensure queer individuals are not subjected to discrimination, violence, or involuntary medical interventions, among other pressing concerns.
The committee will be led by the Union cabinet secretary, with the secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment serving as the convener.
Additionally, members will include secretaries from the ministries of Home Affairs, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, and the Legislative Department of Law and Justice.
The committee is authorised to enlist the expertise of additional professionals and officers as required.
Among the issues the committee is tasked with investigating and making recommendations on are measures to eliminate discrimination in accessing goods, services, and social welfare benefits for queer individuals, strategies to safeguard against violence, harassment, and coercion, ensuring freedom from involuntary medical interventions or surgeries, and developing modules to address the mental health needs of queer individuals.
In its October ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea to legalise same-sex marriages, asserting that the right to marry is not a fundamental right and falls under the purview of legislative regulation in accordance with societal norms.
However, recognizing the challenges faced by same-sex couples, the Court directed the government to establish a high-powered committee to thoroughly examine all relevant factors pertaining to the queer community.
Furthermore, the Court emphasised the importance of extensive stakeholder consultations, particularly with individuals from marginalised groups within the queer community, before finalising any decisions.