India to form panel to look into problems same-sex couples face, Modi government tells top court

India is set to form a committee to look into the problems that gay couples face everyday, the Narendra Modi government told the country's Supreme Court on Wednesday (3) during arguments over recognising same-sex marriages, Reuters reported.

The government has opposed demands to legalise same-sex marriages on the grounds that they are not "comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children".

The top court is hearing petitions seeking legalisation of same sex-marriages, an issue which has caught all eyes since last month.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the government, told the court that a committee, headed by India's top bureaucrat, would look into the practical problems that gay couples face everyday and try to look for an administrative solution, the Reuters report added.

He said the government would also like the petitioners to give the committee solutions and suggestions.

According to the petitioners that include many gay couples, without a legal recognition of their marriage, they are denied rights such as those related to medical consent, pensions or even small things such as club memberships for couples.

The petitioners have argued that without legal recognition of being married, they are denied rights such as those linked to medical consent, pensions, adoption or even simpler things like club memberships for couples.

A five-judge bench headed by chief justice DY Chandrachud has been hearing the case.