Centre forms high-powered panel led by cabinet secy to ensure queer community gets access to welfare schemes

New Delhi: The Centre has appointed a committee headed by Cabinet Secretary as its chairperson for taking measures by the central and state governments to ensure there is no discrimination in access to goods and services to the queer community and they do not face any threat of violence, harassment or coercion.

The committee was formed in terms of the Supreme Court's Constitution bench judgment in Supriyo alias Supriya Vs Union of India on October 17, 2023.

Acting on a batch of pleas for recognition of same sex marriage, the Supreme Court's Constitution bench had then said such couples continued to face discrimination and harassment in their daily lives, and had asked the government to act on its proposal to form a high-powered committee to expeditiously look into genuine human concerns faced by them.

According to a notification issued on April 16, the committee would also comprise Secretary of the department of Home, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Legislative Department, and Ministry of Law and Justice.

The Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment would act as the convener.

The notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice also stated that the committee may co-opt experts and other officers if deemed necessary.

The committee has been asked to suggest measures to be taken to ensure that queer person are not subjected to involuntary medical treatments, surgeries, etc, including modules to cover mental health of queer persons; measures to be taken to ensure that there is no discrimination in access to social welfare entitlements to queer persons; and any other issues as deemed necessary.

During the hearing in the matter last year, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the government will constitute such a committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for the purpose of defining and elucidating the scope of the entitlements of queer couples who are in unions.