The Centre has filed an affidavit before Supreme Court opposing the legal recognition of ‘same-sex marriage’. The Centre said that living together as partners by same-sex individuals is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children. Statutory recognition of marriage limited to heterosexual in nature is the norm throughout history and is foundational to both the existence and continuance of the State, the Centre said. “Hence, considering its social value, the State has a compelling interest in granting recognition to Heterosexual Marriage only to the exclusion of other forms of marriage/unions,” the counter-affidavit by the Centre said.