First Same Sex Marriage Registered In A South Asian Nation 

[{"selector":"#anim-140f58a8-f426-4814-9c36-3f95fc8e2682 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-22.619028447337108%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Surendra Pandey and Maya Gurung became the first same-sex couple in Nepal to have their marriage officially recognized

[{"selector":"#anim-4f3d1282-4a91-42a5-afe3-4e2ec6ba16ec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.46090577008676%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] In 2007, Nepal's Supreme Court had ordered the government to change existing legal provisions to allow same-sex marriages.

[{"selector":"#anim-2fa21052-b9a1-4ef9-917b-733f3c7e4ccd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.166666570590614%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] But successive governments failed to pass required legislation that would mandate lower courts to legally recognize same-sex marriages.

[{"selector":"#anim-2c32a947-ccc3-4b56-9183-0f2f42319dbe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(37.12648389344485%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] In 2017, Pandey and Gurung were married in a Hindu wedding ceremony.

[{"selector":"#anim-88eb383b-7be1-4849-9e51-5a07b6146e1c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.95276864440364%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] They filed petition in Kathmandu District Court seeking legal recognition of their marriage.

[{"selector":"#anim-d231fc2c-22d1-4139-b05c-47dd8cfcc30a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(62.45117161971726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This was after SC instructed municipal authorities to provide "interim registry" for same-sex marriages until existing marriage legislation could be amended.

[{"selector":"#anim-170f22b4-ada8-47ea-ae0c-58dbd8c3a55b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.84260009064811%, 0, 0) translate(6.521739130434784%, -6.521739130434784%) scale(0.8695652173913043)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Both Kathmandu District Court and another high court refused to register the marriage, claiming that federal law only allowed the registration of heterosexual couples.

[{"selector":"#anim-6a03eb34-d138-4801-a127-dd5ba64dd722 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.79999990169903%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] This was despite the Supreme Court ruling.

[{"selector":"#anim-5d6602cc-2c7d-44fd-98e3-07da05f9675f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.90624987200394%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Nepal's Home Ministry said in the last week of November that all local administration offices are allowed to register same-sex marriages.