Same Sex Marriage- Supreme Court Constitution Bench Hearing-DAY-2- LIVE UPDATES
Rohatgi: This Victorian morality issue came in 1800s. If you go back to Indian texts, for hundreds of years, these acts (homosexuality) were depicted on walls for thousands of years. That remained the concept of morality.
Rohatgi: Things change when the moral authority of an institution says that look through the prism of gender neutrality.
Rohatgi: In the US also, a large part of the society is also very conservative. In the recent past, they have gone back on abortions! It's not that they're very much ahead- the red necks as they're called. They're very conservative.
Rohatgi: Kindly read the conclusion in Navtej- "If this (decriminalizing homosexuality) is the first step is the affirmative steps remain." The prayers I seek are affirmative steps which will help me lead a dignified life.
Rohatgi: In Navtej, the Centre's affidavit said, "we leave it to the court". But the court commented on it in Navtej- that we wish you would have taken a stand. So it's not a matter of grace that oh we leave it to you.
Rohatgi: Please see this from Nepal- this is definitely not a case of "urban elitism".
Rohatgi: In my case, the ceremony was conducted by the parents ten years ago. They also went through some transformation. They had a reception. They were from a small home town. Some people go abroad and marry.
(Adv Arundhati Katju says something to Rohatgi)
Rohatgi: Our parents have by and large accepted us. We've gone through the process with our parents. They want them to settle, have a family, have the same recognition.
Rohatgi: We rely on the prestige and the moral authority of the court apart from Article 141. When the highest court of the land says that you have a right to marry, that is what will drive the society to accept this group.
Rohatgi: Here, we need to push the society to acknowledge us as equals in all respects because the constitution says so. This court enjoys moral authority and public confidence.