Madras HC Judge Decides To Have Psycho-Education Session To Understand Same-Sex Relations Better

What Is The Case

• A Judge of the Madras High Court has agreed to undergo psychoeducation before writing a verdict on same-sex relationships, in an unprecedented development.
• “The words on the subject should come from my heart, not from my mind”, said Justice N. Anand Venkatesh. As a result, he sought an appointment with a counsellor so that the specialist could assist him in better understanding those relationships and pave the way for "his evolution."
• According to the Judge, the psycho-education session will help me better understand same-sex relationships and pave the way for my evolution.
• The Judge had previously ordered the couple and their parents to attend counselling in order to better understand each other.
• Since the parties have made great progress, the Court was asked to provide guidelines for dealing with similar cases so that people in same-sex marriages are treated with respect and their protection is assured.

Facts Of The Case

• The 1st Petitioner (around 22 years old) has a B.Sc. in Mathematics and is currently pursuing an MBA, while the 2nd Petitioner (around 20 years old) is pursuing a B.A. in Tamil.
• The Petitioners have known each other for the past two years, and they both claimed before the Court that their relationship has blossomed into love and that they would be life partners.
• "The Petitioners didn't mince words, and what they wished to say was crystal clear," the Court observed.
• The parents of the respective Petitioners learned of their relationship, and it did not sit well with them.
• When the Court met with the parents of the respective Petitioners, they expressed their surprise and claimed that they were unable to consider the Petitioners' relationship right away.
• They were more concerned about the Petitioners' safety and that they would not be exploited.

Order Of The Court

• “Insofar as the request made by the learned counsel S. Manuraj, for the petitioners, to set out guidelines in cases of this nature is concerned, I want to give myself some more time to churn,” the Judge said on Wednesday, passing interim orders on a petition filed by two young women of the same-sex orientation.
• Finally, the words must come from my heart rather than my head in this case, and this will not be possible if I am not fully awake on this issue.”
• As a result, he desired to undergo psychoeducation with Vidhya Dinakaran, a psychologist. “I trust that if I write an order after psychoeducation, the words will come from my heart.”
• The psychologist sent a report on Wednesday after the first round of counselling, claiming that the petitioners fully comprehend their relationship and have no doubts in their minds. They want to keep in touch with their parents while continuing their education and working. The women, on the other hand, were afraid that their parents would push them to divorce right away and were willing to wait until they could understand each other.
• In terms of the parties in the case, the Court stated that the Petitioner-couple is being cared for by an NGO and that they continue to communicate with their parents on a regular basis.
• The parents, on the other hand, had raised reservations about the stigma attached to same-sex couples, as well as confusions about lineage, adoption, and other natural implications of a heterosexual relationship.
• The Judge stated that the parents should not be expected to change their minds overnight after receiving the study.
• As a result, he ordered them to attend another counselling session until the case was scheduled to be heard again on June 7.