Family Feud: A Talk on LGBTQ Rights in the Aftermath of Supriyo | By NLS Queer Alliance
August 11, 2025
The NLS Queer Alliance hosted its first event of the academic year 2025-26 on August 7, 2025. The talk titled ‘Family Feud’ focussed on the high powered committee (HPC) set up in furtherance of the decision in Supriyo v. Union of India. The speakers were Jwalika Balaji from Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, and NLS Visiting Faculty Mario Da Penha. The session was moderated by Krishika Kamal and Dyuti Abhay (IInd year BA LLB), who were also the organisers of the event.
About the Speakers
- Jwalika Balaji is an NLS alum (NLS BA LLB 2023). She is a Research Fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, and has worked on the submissions by Vidhi and Keshav Suri Foundation to the Committee.
- Mario Da Penha is queer historian, activist, and political worker. He is currently teaching an elective course at NLS on the history of queerness. He was one of the co-petitioners in the case against Section 377 of the IPC and the marriage equality case. He leads work on LGBTQIA+ rights within the Professionals’ Congress.
About the Talk
Jwalika began by talking about the submissions made by Vidhi and Keshav Suri Foundation to the HPC, including the consultation process, the proposals, the broad nature of the demands and action plan, and the interaction with various stakeholders. They explained the rationale behind the submissions covering aspects which went beyond just marriage equality.
Mario added to the discussion by narrating the larger political and social landscape of the marriage equality debate; their experience in student politics and as a co-petitioner in the marriage equality case. They emphasised the need for political mobilisation of the queer community and the importance of marriage equality, along with other demands.