New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission (NMC) have told the Delhi High Court that there is no medical or ethical rationale for excluding a non-heterosexual or queer partner from taking healthcare decisions on behalf of a competent adult patient merely on the ground of the partners' sex, gender or sexual orientation, subject to applicable law and safeguards.

In an affidavit filed before the High Court in a plea seeking recognition of non-heterosexual partners as medical representatives, the Union of India and NMC said that the relief sought by petitioner Arshiya Takkar is "substantially capable of being accommodated" within the existing legal and ethical framework.

The re...