BACKGROUND:
In Jeeva M. v. State of Karnataka, the Karnataka High Court considered a petition filed by a transgender person who wanted to change their name and gender on all school documents, as well as their SSLC (10th) and PUC (12th) certificates. The Court noted that they had received many such petitions earlier as well. So, they ordered the Government to issue a circular to ensure transgender persons need not keep coming to Court to change their education documents.
THE CIRCULAR:
On 4th June, 2019, the Government of Karnataka issued a circular to all senior Education Officials. The circular clarified that following the judgment in NALSA and Jeeva M., the concerned officials should not reject applications for a change of name and gender. They should request the applicants to procure an order from the Civil Courts or other courts and submit it along with the application. After following the necessary guidelines, the official should accept the application.
SIGNIFICANCE:
The circular ensures that all relevant departments are aware of the law. Earlier, many transgender persons had to approach the High Court in order to enforce have their documents changed. The circular makes it easier to enforce their constitutional right to have their documents reflect their self-identified gender identity.
Read the circular here.
Read the English translation of the circular provided by CLPR here.