Same sex couple signs MoU for legal protection

ONE OF THE SIGNATORIES IS 28 AND HAILS FROM NAGPUR WHILE THE OTHER IS A 19-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AND HAILS FROM GONDIA DISTRICT

PUNE : In a rare incidence of a same-sex couple seeking legal validity for their relationship, a Nagpur-based lesbian couple registered a notarized memorandum of understanding (MoU) on in a Pune district court to ensure protection from their families who are against their relationship.

One of the signatories is 28 and hails from Nagpur while the other is a 19-year-old student and hails from Gondia district of Maharashtra. The names of the signatories have been withheld to protect their identities.

The two met in October 2021 and decided to live together, the MoU, which was registered on April 7, stated. However, the family of the 19-year-old began to harass them and since February, they faced a “serious threat to their lives,” the couple’s lawyer Vikas Shinde said. The document aimed at getting legal protection from those “inimical or hostile to their relationship,” Shinde said.

“Both the parties have mutually decided to live-in voluntarily without any force, fraud, coercion, under influence and therefore there are making this MoU to this effect. It has been agreed by and between the parties hereunto that they will live together on mutual promises...,” the MoU stated.

“The parties do hereby undertake, assure, agree and declare unto each other that they both by self-determination are very well aware about their sexual orientation and identity,” it added.

“My partner’s family decided to hold her wedding. She told me that she wanted to stay with me and left her house. A police inquiry was initiated against me and it was alleged that I eloped with her. I was getting threatening messages. We have to stay together. I don’t know what will happen in the future. I contacted activists and came to Pune and signed the MoU,” the 28-year-old said.

The document stated that the couple will open a joint bank account and bear all living and daily expenses jointly.

“Though Section 377 has been scrapped, there is no law to endorse same sex marriage. At this point, there has to be a legal measure to ensure that the couple stays securely and safely. Hence a memorandum of understanding has been signed. This could the first case where a same sex couple has signed an MoU. There can be legal protection to them if they are being threatened by someone,” he said.