Kathmandu, May 12 -- After a relationship of two years, Ramita and her partner Shilu, both 22, went to the Sunkoshi Rural Municipality in Sindhuli on Thursday to have their marriage registered.

They thought it would be an easy process as Nepal's Supreme Court had passed a verdict in June 2023 to allow same-sex marriage.

But instead of recognition, they faced delay and rejection at the hands of the local unit-and ultimately, separation, enforced by the police.

The local unit cited a lack of legal clarity. "We don't know about this same-sex marriage issue or the legal procedures for it," a local unit official told Shilu, who the Post is identifying with a pseudonym to protect her privacy. The official added that they would need 15 days t...