<p>Homosexuality may have been decriminalised by a Delhi court, but a gay couple in Uttar Pradesh is running for cover as their "marriage" solemnised "by mistake" under the Hindu Marriages Act (HMA) is facing legal hurdles and social stigma.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In a relationship of more than a decade now, both Simran and Chunmun Kumar, who are in their 20s and call themselves a madly in love couple, had registered their marriage in a Ballia court in March.<br /><br /> Things went well until it was discovered that both the groom and the bride were men.<br /><br />The two maintain that they had clearly told the lawyers involved and the registrar of marriages that they were both men. <br /><br />Officials, however, told IANS that the two had given sworn affidavits, testifying that they were man and woman.<br /><br />Simran is a male dancer who performed with a troupe and calls 'herself' Simran Singh. The troupe also included Chunmun, a resident of Bareilly.<br /><br />They chose Ballia to marry as the two had been living in the district for seven years. A local lawyer told IANS that under the Hindu Marriages Act, the marriage could not be held legal as the two came from the same sex.<br /><br />There is "as such no room for such homosexual unions", the lawyers say.<br /><br />The duo, however, contest the claim and allege they were being "wronged" by officials as they had clearly said they hailed from the same gender and were in fact charged a "court fees of Rs.3,000 and given official certification of marriage the next day, March 30." <br /><br />It was only after they went back to their village in Bareilly that villagers said the marriage was not legal. The couple then fled the village.<br /><br />S.C. Mishra, sub-registrar of Ballia, however, maintains that the affidavits given by the duo described Simran as a woman and Chunmun as a man. He points out that Simran came dressed as a newly wed, in a bright red sari, with 'sindoor' et al. <br /><br />Mishra said the marriage had been solemnised "by mistake".<br /><br />The recommendation of the gram pradhan also looks shady, officials say, as the name of the headman is different from that in the actual records.</p>
<p>Homosexuality may have been decriminalised by a Delhi court, but a gay couple in Uttar Pradesh is running for cover as their "marriage" solemnised "by mistake" under the Hindu Marriages Act (HMA) is facing legal hurdles and social stigma.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In a relationship of more than a decade now, both Simran and Chunmun Kumar, who are in their 20s and call themselves a madly in love couple, had registered their marriage in a Ballia court in March.<br /><br /> Things went well until it was discovered that both the groom and the bride were men.<br /><br />The two maintain that they had clearly told the lawyers involved and the registrar of marriages that they were both men. <br /><br />Officials, however, told IANS that the two had given sworn affidavits, testifying that they were man and woman.<br /><br />Simran is a male dancer who performed with a troupe and calls 'herself' Simran Singh. The troupe also included Chunmun, a resident of Bareilly.<br /><br />They chose Ballia to marry as the two had been living in the district for seven years. A local lawyer told IANS that under the Hindu Marriages Act, the marriage could not be held legal as the two came from the same sex.<br /><br />There is "as such no room for such homosexual unions", the lawyers say.<br /><br />The duo, however, contest the claim and allege they were being "wronged" by officials as they had clearly said they hailed from the same gender and were in fact charged a "court fees of Rs.3,000 and given official certification of marriage the next day, March 30." <br /><br />It was only after they went back to their village in Bareilly that villagers said the marriage was not legal. The couple then fled the village.<br /><br />S.C. Mishra, sub-registrar of Ballia, however, maintains that the affidavits given by the duo described Simran as a woman and Chunmun as a man. He points out that Simran came dressed as a newly wed, in a bright red sari, with 'sindoor' et al. <br /><br />Mishra said the marriage had been solemnised "by mistake".<br /><br />The recommendation of the gram pradhan also looks shady, officials say, as the name of the headman is different from that in the actual records.</p>
