Posted by New Delhi: The Centre a six-member panel to look into concerns related to the LGBTQ+ community, months after the Supreme Court directed it to do so. The move came months after the top court did not permit same-sex marriages. It had also passed the matter to the Parliament. In its order, the SC had asked the committee to be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
According to the notification issued by the Centre, the six-person panel will be led by he Cabinet secretary, who will be its chairperson. The committee will comprise of secretaries from different departments including Home, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Legislative Department, and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The committee will review steps for the progress of the LGBT community
The committee will also review steps that could be implemented to prevent any kind of discrimination against the community in accessing goods and services, as also measures that can be taken to protect them from any kind of violence or harassment.
The committee will also consider steps to prevent involuntary medical treatments and surgeries for for the community., as well as methods to ensure equal access to social welfare benefits without discrimination, and other relevant concerns.
Earlier in May, the Centre told the top court that it would form a committee that will be led by the Cabinet Secretary to address concerns relating to same-sex couples without recognising their marriage legally.
The court had also said that if the give the Centre does what it said, it will be a great building block for the future of gay rights. It had also petitioners on whether they would still like to continue on their demand to declare that they have the right to get married under the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954.