UK's request: Diplomat visas for partners
Britain has taken up with the Ministry of External Affairs the matter of diplomatic visas for the same-sex partners of "some" of its officials in India. These partners of diplomats mostly stay in India on tourist visas, which restrict them in many ways. For instance, they cannot always travel with the diplomats. In addition, India's changed visa rules - which have made a two-month cooling off period between visits to the country mandatory - is coming in the way of their continued stay, the British have hinted at, according to sources. Ministry officials said that as per existing rules, diplomatic visas are given only to spouses and financial dependents. And, there is no legal recognition for gay marriages in India. Commenting on the problem, Dan Chugg, spokesperson for the British High Commission in New Delhi, said: "Same-sex relationships don't have the same status as opposite-sex couples in Indian law. This relates to the Article 377 case (decriminalisation of homosexuality) going on in courts. We are watching this case." The British system allows same-sex partners for its diplomats. <http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/511147.aspx> http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/511147.aspx C Copyright 2009 Hindustan Times Email: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/post?postID=DCvNIbdTv_3_C5j5flK54H ZuyqMJgNC-L4S3BWR464eSfMgGEAMLax1OSqSI6REqIgVM3LQEejINlemMrw> modera...@gaybombay.in E Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay http://groups.google.com/group/Gaybombay http://groups.google.com/group/GayIndia Public archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay%40yahoogroups.com/maillist.html Rss feed: http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com/maillist.xml GB Internet Radio at http://www.gaybombay.in/gbradio Web Sites: www.gaybombay.in www.gayindia.org Orkut: http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Profile?uid=15084918632470824129 Blogs: http://gaybombay.blogspot.com http://gaybombay.wordpress.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/gaybombay http://twitter.com/gayindia Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gaybombay http://www.facebook.com/gayindia
