Manu was declared dead on February 4, but with his own family refusing to collect his body and the Indian law not recognising his partner Jebin as a legal heir, Manu’s body has remained unclaimed for nearly two days.
All eyes are on the largest democracy on the planet, in anticipation of what could possibly be the most significant leap in marriage equality in the world.
The case gives the Supreme Court a golden opportunity to extend its protections to the lowest rungs of the society, for whom the protections conferred in Navtej Johar have remained mere abstractions so far.
The Supreme Court of India began hearing petitions seeking the legalisation of same-sex marriage on April 18, 2023. Whether Supreme Court, or Parliament, will pave the way for same-sex marriage in the coming days will be seen, but the question that has come up for the debate on marriage equality is whether same sex marriage is an 'urban elitist concept' or integral right in comparison to other rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution.