Take steps to get transgender rights bill passed in Lok Sabha: Madras HC tells govt

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Thursday directed authorities to change the name and gender in the education certificates of a person, who underwent sex reassignment surgery from female to male. Justice N Kirubakaran gave the direction to the School Education Department, Controller of Examination, Madras University and the Controller of Examinations, Anna University on a petition filed by the person. [caption id=“attachment_1281025” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image: Reuters[/caption] While referring to the report of a corporate hospital that the man has had sex-reassignment surgery from female to male on 27 August, 2016 and also underwent psycho-legal counselling, the judge said that as is evident from the records and as certified by the doctor, the request of the petitioner to change name and sex in the education certificates has to be carried out by the authorities within four weeks. The judge also suo motu impleaded the Centre, Health and Family Welfare Department Secretary, union secretary of Social Justice and Empowerment and Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice department as respondents. The judge issued notice to Assistant Solicitor General and directed him to get instructions when the bill on Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, which is pending in the Lok Sabha, would be passed and also whether it is possible to consider transgender as a separate special group for the purpose of education, employment and other social benefits. “Since the issue relates to transformation of female to male and in view of many similar cases reported in the media, it is the Union government which has to take appropriate steps as it alone is vested with the powers to bring out an appropriate Act”, the judge said. The judge posted the matter for further hearing to 4 September and directed the petitioner to be present in the Court on that day.