Right in Question: The right of a transgender person to have their self-identified name and gender legally recognized in all official and educational documents. Facts: The Petitioner, originally recorded as “Boboi Laishram” (male), underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2019 and was thereafter recognized as Dr. Beoncy Laishram (female). The District Magistrate, Imphal West issued the […]
VIHAAN PEETHAMBAR V. MANIPAL UNIVERSITY AND ORS.
Facts: The Petitioner in this case was a transman who wanted to change his name and gender in his degree certificate which was denied by the Respondent University. Therefore, he filed a petition seeking direction for such change in name and gender in educational records. Court Decision and Reasoning: Before the High Court the Respondent […]
CHINDER PAL SINGH V. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVT OF RAJASTHAN
Facts: The Petitioner was assigned female at birth, and was employed as a Physical Training Instructor, under the General Female category. The Petitioner underwent SRS and changed his documents to reflect his identity as male and sought a change in his service records which was not done. The Petitioner therefore approached the High Court. Court […]
CHRISTINA LOBO V. STATE OF KARNATAKA
Facts: The Petitioner approached the respondent authorities to seek change of her name and gender change in her CBSE, Pre-university and her MBBS records. She had undergone gender affirmative surgery and legally changed her name and gender prior to the Act being enacted. The Respondents had rejected her request and hence she approached the High […]
S. SWAPNA VS. STATE OF TAMIL NADU
KEY FACTS: Swapna, a transgender woman applied for fresh SSLC and HSC certificates indicating her new name and gender identity. The Joint Director of School Examination (JDSE), Tamil Nadu refused to provide them to her. The JDSE stated that the current rules do not allow such name and sex changes. She had submitted her medical […]
POOJITHA B.P. VS. KARNATAKA SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION BOARD
KEY FACTS: Poojitha is a transgender woman who wanted to change her name and gender in her educational record. She had obtained fresh identity documents, such as an Aadhar card and a passport, indicating her name and gender after undergoing sex-reassignment surgery. Even after 3 months, the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (hereafter: the “Board”) […]
N.D. VISHNU PRIYA V. DIRECTORATE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION
ISSUE Whether a transgender woman can apply for change of name and gender in her educational documents and passport? KEY FACTS Vishnu Priya is a transgender woman who applied for changes in her identity documents after undergoing sex-reassignment surgery. She wanted her gender and name to be changed in her passport and educational certificates. She […]
VINOD H.N. V. STATE OF KARNATAKA
ISSUE Whether Vinod, an intersex person, is entitled to change his name and gender in his educational documents, ration card and voter ID? KEY FACTS Vinod H.N., the petitioner was born intersex. In his birth documents, this was listed as a medical condition called “severe perianal hypospadasis” (intersex variation). Vinod identified as male and wanted […]
NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY (NALSA) V. UNION OF INDIA
ISSUE Whether transgender persons have the right to legal recognition of self-perceived gender? Whether persons who fall outside the male/female binary can be recognised as a third gender? KEY FACTS The National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) filed a petition in the public interest, seeking the recognition of self-perceived gender identity and a “third […]
CHANCHAL BHATTACHARYA V. STATE OF WEST BENGAL
ISSUE Whether the educational board’s refusal to change Tamal’s name and gender in his educational certificates was wrong in law? KEY FACTS Tamal identified as male but had been assigned female at birth. He had struggled with gender dysphoria and, on the basis of multiple medical consultations, had decided to undergo sex-reassignment surgery. Tamal declared his name change […]
K. GOWTHAM SUBRAMANIYAM V. CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATION, ANNA UNIVERSITY
ISSUE Whether Anna University should be directed to change Gowtham’s name and gender in his educational certificates? KEY FACTS Gowtham was assigned female at birth. His educational certificates reflected the name and gender as assigned at birth. After graduating from Anna University in Tamil Nadu, Gowtham underwent sex-reassignment surgery. Consequently, he changed his identity in […]
MULLA FAIZAL V. STATE OF GUJARAT
ISSUE Whether the Petitioner was entitled to change his name and gender in his birth certificate which was wrongly assigned at birth because he was intersex? FACTS Mulla Faizal was assigned and recorded as female at birth despite having intersex characteristics. As an adult, he had developed more male characteristics and obtained medical and psychological […]