Could Another Same-Sex Marriage Incident in Chhatarpur Change Perspectives?

Bhopal, June 18 (NationPress) In a notable incident of same-sex marriage, two young women from a village in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, have publicly acknowledged their civil union.

After officially declaring their partnership via an affidavit, the women decided to cohabitate.

A purported video (IANS has not verified its authenticity) featuring them has gained viral attention since Wednesday.

According to IANS, police station incharge Satish Singh shared that, “Their parents contacted me — not the police station — after the girls had been absent for two days and requested a missing person report. However, two weeks prior, both girls had approached me for legal protection, stating they were married to each other.

“I advised them to reconsider their decision, as they are young, unemployed, and same-sex marriage is not recognized legally in the country.

“I also informed their parents that the girls were not missing but had expressed a desire to live together. Therefore, no complaint was registered.”

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the couple had submitted an application and a notarized affidavit at the local tehsil office concerning their civil union, the police officer added.

The officer explained that both individuals are residents of a village in the Naugaon tehsil, and since their relationship is consensual and legally documented, police intervention is unwarranted.

They clarified that their families were not supportive of the relationship, prompting them to seek legal protection to affirm their rights and ensure their safety.

One of the women mentioned that they had solemnized their union earlier, on December 9, 2023, at a temple, the officer further clarified.

The viral video also includes her declaration of marriage to the other woman. Despite having married in a temple nearly two years ago, they had continued living apart due to family opposition.

They have now submitted an affidavit formalizing their civil union, allowing them to start a life together on their own terms, stated an administrative officer.

“An affidavit does not hold legal recognition for same-sex marriage; only courts can address such matters, and there is a process due to family and social objections. Currently, same-sex marriage lacks legal status in India. We will counsel them, as they are still quite young, though they are consenting adults. We will also discuss this with their parents, who seem to be unaware of the marriage. Even if they choose to live together, they must consider all aspects of life,” remarked Gopal Sharan Patel, Deputy Collector of Chhatarpur, in an interview with IANS.

This marks the second reported same-sex civil union in Chhatarpur within three months. Earlier this year, a 23-year-old woman from Dauria village and her partner from Assam decided to cohabit in March.

Local authorities confirmed that no formal complaint has been lodged against the couple, nor have there been any criminal accusations related to their union.

While same-sex marriages are not yet legally recognized in India, adult consensual same-sex relationships termed as “civil union” are no longer criminal offenses following the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in 2018.

Notarized affidavits have since become a widely utilized legal tool for same-sex couples seeking cohabitation and protection from harassment or familial opposition.

Chhatarpur is recognized as an economically disadvantaged district with minimal industrial presence.

Additionally, much of the district suffers from drought, leading agriculture, the primary source of income, to provide insufficient earnings to residents.