India’s highest court has refused to legalize same-sex marriages, turning the responsibility back to Parliament.

The ruling that came down Tuesday was disappointing to campaigners for LGBTQ+ rights in the world’s most populous country.

The chief justice also called on the Indian government to uphold the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and end discrimination against them.

Earlier this year the court heard 21 petitions that sought to legalize same-sex marriage.

Over the past decade legal rights for LGBTQ+ people in India have been expanding, largely as a result of the Supreme Court’s intervention.

Five years ago the court struck down a colonial-era law that had made gay sex punishable by up to 10 years in prison.