New Delhi: Delhi High Court questioned Centre over a year-long delay in responding to a plea seeking legal recognition and guidelines for same-sex partners to provide medical consent and make emergency healthcare decisions for each other, orally noting that the law permits same-sex live-in relationships.The court observed that when consenting adults are allowed to be in same-sex live-in relationships, authorities must also consider corresponding changes in rules and regulations.“The law recognises a live-in relationship between a man and a woman. Why will it not allow a live-in relationship between a man and a man? … Whenever a person chooses a path that is not taken by the majority, they will be targeted or looked down upon, or perhaps not looked down upon but simply not accepted. I have many cases where families give them up and do not accept the relationship,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma remarked orally.The high court noted that notices had been issued to Centre and National Medical Commission in July 2025 but responses were yet to be filed.“You need to tell me what your stand is,” the court told the authorities.Govt counsel sought time, saying he had been appointed recently.The plea was moved by a woman who has been in a relationship with her partner since 2015. The couple married in New Zealand in 2023 and have been living together in Delhi since 2018.
