Introduction:
On 19 October 2023, the Supreme Court delivered a ground-breaking verdict on same-sex marriage. This landmark decision ignited discussions across the nation, sparking hope, controversy, and a wide array of emotions. To explore the various dimensions of this momentous ruling, a panel discussion is being convened jointly by Law School Policy Review (LSPR) and National Law School Queer Alliance (NLSQA), bringing together experts from diverse fields to shed light on the legal, social, and emotional aspects of this issue.
Composition of the Panel:
1. Jayna Kothari (Senior Advocate & Executive Director) CLPR [Panelist 1]
Jayna Kothari is a Senior Advocate and practices in the Supreme Court of India. She graduated from University Law College with a B.A. LL.B degree and read the BCL at Oxford University. Jayna was awarded the Wrangler D.C. Pavate Fellowship in Cambridge University.
Jayna’s research and practice interests include constitutional law, gender and sexuality law, disability rights and discrimination law. She had argued in the Supreme Court in the recent constitutional challenges to Section 377 and adultery which were both decriminalized. She has been actively involved in the same-sex marriage case before the Supreme Court.
2. Rohin Bhatt (Advocate, Chambers of Indira Jaising) [Panelist 2]
Rohin Bhatt is a queer rights activist, a lawyer practising at the Supreme Court and a bioethicist. His work focuses on constitutional law, and bioethics, with a particular focus on feminist and queer approaches to bioethics to make healthcare policies and laws more accessible for queer persons, and the effects fascism has on human rights and their intersections.
3. Muskan Tibrewala (Assistant Director, Centre for Justice, Law and Society) [Panelist 3]
Muskan Tibrewala is an advocate at the Supreme Court of India. They were part of the marriage equality hearings before the Supreme Court of India.
4. Kanav N. Sahgal (Research Fellow, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy) [Moderator]
Kanav N Sahgal is Samvidhaan Fellowship Programme Manager at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and Communications Manager at Nyaaya. He holds a Master’s in Development from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru and specializes in global gender politics and the law- with a focus on gay rights and abortion rights. Kanav also has extensive experience in the domains of development communications, programme management, human resources management, social media management, content writing, and on-ground advocacy. He has worked for NGOs, not-for-profits, and for-profits engaged in the following domains: international development (monitoring and evaluation), environment and social consulting, student leadership development, anti-human trafficking, and LGBTQIA+ advocacy.
All the lead panelists were part of the case and have valuable insights to offer. The panel will also be taking questions from the audience and this would be a good opportunity to interact with the lawyers who were involved in the case. Currently, the event is planned for 5:30-7:00 P.M. on Tuesday (24 October 2023). Tune into LSPR’s Instagram Handle to get latest updates about the event!
Registration Link: https://nls-ac-in.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iNyJ5E5MSmigkYEB79Aq-w
