LGBTQ Couple Facing Threat From Families: Delhi High Court Directs Police To Provide Security, Shift Them To Safe House

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the police to provide adequate security to a LGBTQ couple, facing threat from their families. The Court also directed that the couple be shifted to a safe house, set up by the Delhi Government.

Justice Mukta Gupta issued notice on a plea filed by NGO Dhanak of Humanity. The couple is presently residing in the NGO's office.

It was the case of the couple that despite being major persons, their relationship was not approved by their families due to the reason of them belonging to the LGBTQ community.

During the course of hearing, Advocate Utkarsh Singh appearing for the couple submitted before the Court that after facing threat from their family members, the couple had come to Delhi from Punjab in order to solemnize marriage.

Hearing the plea, the Court directed the SHO of the concerned police station to ensure that the couple will be taken safely from the NGO's office to a safe house at Sewa Kutir Complex in Kingsway Camp area.

The aforesaid safe house is maintained by the Delhi Government for the safety of couples facing threat from their families as per the directions of the Supreme Court in Shakti Vahini case.

With the aforementioned directions, the matter was adjourned to August 2.

Justice Gupta passed an order earlier this year, granting protection to a lesbian woman who had been married to a man against her wishes and was threatened to be "cured" of her sexual orientation. "An adult woman cannot be forced to stay with her marital or parental family against her wishes," she had observed.

Title: DHANAK OF HUMANITY & ORS v. GNCTD & ORS.