The Central government has constituted a six-member committee to examine various issues relating to the queer community.

This came months after the Supreme Court refused to grant legal recognition to ‘same-sex marriages’ and referred the decision regarding legislation on the same to Parliament.

The government order noted that the Supreme Court judgment dated October 17, 2023, directed the Centre to constitute a committee to be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to examine the various issues relating to queer community.

“The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its judgment dated 17.10.2023, in Writ Petition No. 1011/2022 Supriyo@Supriya Vs. Union of India, has directed the Central Government to constitute a committee to be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to examine the various issues relating to queer community,” the official notification read.

The panel will be headed by the Cabinet secretary as chairperson and will include -Secretary, Department of Home; Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development; Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare; Secretary, Legislative Department; and Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The committee will examine measures that can be taken to ensure there is no discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in access to goods and services, and measures that can be taken to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community does not face any threat of violence, harassment or coercion.