Nepal's Supreme Court Orders Legalisation of Same-Sex Marriage

On June 18, 2026, the Supreme Court of Nepal issued a final ruling in favour of marriage equality, directing the country’s government to ensure equal marriage rights for gender and sexual minority couples. The ruling requires updating the civil code and establishing a marriage register that guarantees equality for LGBT people.

This decision is the culmination of a process that began in 2023 when a group of activists challenged discriminatory marriage laws. At that time, the Supreme Court issued an interim order requiring authorities to create a separate temporary marriage register for same-sex couples, but the new rules faced resistance from local officials and attempts to challenge them in court. The current verdict dismisses a counter-petition aimed at invalidating already registered marriages and provides legal certainty for LGBT couples.

Human rights activist Sunil Babu Pant called the decision “a historic milestone for equality, dignity, and human rights in Nepal.” According to him, it reaffirms constitutional principles of inclusion and non-discrimination. The local human rights organisation Blue Diamond Society noted in a social media statement that this is the fourth Supreme Court decision in the last two decades confirming that the freedom to marry the person you love is guaranteed by the country’s Constitution. Activists are now waiting for the government to take steps toward the practical implementation of the ruling.

Nepal is one of the most progressive countries in Asia regarding LGBT rights. As early as 2007, a court ordered the state to recognise the rights of sexual and gender minorities and end discrimination. Nevertheless, as human rights defenders note, the implementation of these rights often faces practical difficulties: for example, transgender and non-binary people still experience challenges in obtaining documents with a correct gender marker.