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Transgender doctor can change name and gender from male to female: HC

Transgender doctor can change name and gender from male to female: HC

New Indian Express15 hours ago
Justice A Guneshwar Sharma, in an order, directed the authorities to issue fresh education certificates under the new name (Beoncy Laishram) and gender (female) in place of the original birth name 'Boboi Laishram' and gender as 'male' in terms of the provision of Sections 6, 7, 10 & 20 of the Transgender Act, 2019 and Rule 2(d) read with Annexure-I of the Transgender Rules, 2020 and on the basis of certificates issued by District Magistrate, Imphal West under the provision of Sections 6 & 7 of the Transgender Act, 2019 within a period of one month.
'In all existing act/bye-laws/rules/regulations of any establishment within the meaning of Section 2(b) of the Act within the territory of State of Manipur, the provisions of Sections 6 & 7 of the Right of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 shall be incorporated,' the court ordered.
It did not find any merit in the argument that the correction and updating of the name and gender should start from the matriculation certificate and only then, the new particular of the petitioner can be updated in the Class-12 certificate. Laishram, the first recorded doctor from the transgender community in the Northeast, was overjoyed. 'This landmark judgment will ease similar problems being faced by transpeople,' she said.
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'The judgment has done me justice': Northeast's first transwoman doctor wins court battle; Manipur HC asks authorities to issue updated certificates
'The judgment has done me justice': Northeast's first transwoman doctor wins court battle; Manipur HC asks authorities to issue updated certificates

Time of India

time12 hours ago

  • Time of India

'The judgment has done me justice': Northeast's first transwoman doctor wins court battle; Manipur HC asks authorities to issue updated certificates

By: Donald Sairem IMPHAL: In a landmark judgment delivered on Tuesday, the Manipur high court allowed the change of name and gender in the academic records of the transwoman Dr Beoncy Laishram, following a petition filed by her. The court directed the authorities concerned to issue fresh education certificates reflecting the petitioner's new name and gender — 'Beoncy Laishram' and 'female' — within one month. She is not just Manipur's first and only transwoman doctor, she is also northeast's first transgender doctor. Dr Beoncy had approached the HC after her Feb 2024 request to update her name and gender on academic and official documents was denied by the authorities. Her birth name was 'Boboi Laishram' and gender listed as 'male'. Dr Beoncy, a biological male before undergoing gender reassignment surgery in Oct, 2019, had applied to the district magistrate of Imphal West for a transgender certificate. The DM issued both the certificate and a transgender identity card under her new name and gender. Her Aadhaar, Voter ID, and PAN card were subsequently updated to reflect the changes. Despite these updates, her requests to the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM), Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM), Manipur University (MU), and Manipur Medical Council to amend her academic records were not accepted. Senior counsel Jayna Kothari, representing Dr Beoncy, cited Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 – the provisions which empower transgender people to apply for identity certificates and mandate that revised gender and name be reflected in all official documents, including birth and educational certificates. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered BOSEM, COHSEM, MU, and the Manipur Medical Council to issue updated certificates under Dr Beoncy's new identity. The court further directed that the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of the Act shall be incorporated into all existing laws, rules, and regulations of establishments within Manipur, as defined under Section 2(b) of the Act. The chief secretary of Manipur was instructed to issue necessary directives to all the establishments in this regard. Until formal incorporation is completed, these provisions shall be deemed to be read into all existing frameworks under Section 20 of the Act, the court ruled. Speaking to TOI, petitioner Dr Beoncy expressed immense joy over the HC's judgment. "It is a relief. I have been thinking of completing PG as well to advance my career and specialising in surgery or gynaecology someday. But I was scared I'd be made to stay in a boys' hostel just because my academic records say I'm a male, even though I've undergone reassignment surgery. The judgment has given me reassurance and done me justice," she said. She also hoped the judgment would raise awareness about the rights of transgender people, who often face marginalisation and systemic barriers. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.

Transgender doctor can change name and gender from male to female: HC
Transgender doctor can change name and gender from male to female: HC

New Indian Express

time15 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Transgender doctor can change name and gender from male to female: HC

Justice A Guneshwar Sharma, in an order, directed the authorities to issue fresh education certificates under the new name (Beoncy Laishram) and gender (female) in place of the original birth name 'Boboi Laishram' and gender as 'male' in terms of the provision of Sections 6, 7, 10 & 20 of the Transgender Act, 2019 and Rule 2(d) read with Annexure-I of the Transgender Rules, 2020 and on the basis of certificates issued by District Magistrate, Imphal West under the provision of Sections 6 & 7 of the Transgender Act, 2019 within a period of one month. 'In all existing act/bye-laws/rules/regulations of any establishment within the meaning of Section 2(b) of the Act within the territory of State of Manipur, the provisions of Sections 6 & 7 of the Right of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 shall be incorporated,' the court ordered. It did not find any merit in the argument that the correction and updating of the name and gender should start from the matriculation certificate and only then, the new particular of the petitioner can be updated in the Class-12 certificate. Laishram, the first recorded doctor from the transgender community in the Northeast, was overjoyed. 'This landmark judgment will ease similar problems being faced by transpeople,' she said.

It's justice for Dr Beoncy: Transwoman doc wins court battle for identity recognition
It's justice for Dr Beoncy: Transwoman doc wins court battle for identity recognition

Time of India

time17 hours ago

  • Time of India

It's justice for Dr Beoncy: Transwoman doc wins court battle for identity recognition

1 2 Imphal: In a landmark judgment delivered on Tuesday, the Manipur high court allowed the change of name and gender in the academic records of the transwoman Dr Beoncy Laishram, following a petition filed by her. The court directed the authorities concerned to issue fresh education certificates reflecting the petitioner's new name and gender — 'Beoncy Laishram' and 'female' — within one month. She is not just Manipur's first and only transwoman doctor, she is also northeast's first transgender doctor. Dr Beoncy had approached the HC after her Feb 2024 request to update her name and gender on academic and official documents was denied by the authorities. Her birth name was 'Boboi Laishram' and gender listed as 'male'. Dr Beoncy, a biological male before undergoing gender reassignment surgery in Oct, 2019, had applied to the district magistrate of Imphal West for a transgender certificate. The DM issued both the certificate and a transgender identity card under her new name and gender. Her Aadhaar, Voter ID, and PAN card were subsequently updated to reflect the changes. Despite these updates, her requests to the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM), Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM), Manipur University (MU), and Manipur Medical Council to amend her academic records were not accepted. Senior counsel Jayna Kothari, representing Dr Beoncy, cited Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 – the provisions which empower transgender people to apply for identity certificates and mandate that revised gender and name be reflected in all official documents, including birth and educational certificates. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered BOSEM, COHSEM, MU, and the Manipur Medical Council to issue updated certificates under Dr Beoncy's new identity. The court further directed that the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of the Act shall be incorporated into all existing laws, rules, and regulations of establishments within Manipur, as defined under Section 2(b) of the Act. The chief secretary of Manipur was instructed to issue necessary directives to all the establishments in this regard. Until formal incorporation is completed, these provisions shall be deemed to be read into all existing frameworks under Section 20 of the Act, the court ruled. Speaking to TOI, petitioner Dr Beoncy expressed immense joy over the HC's judgment. "It is a relief. I have been thinking of completing PG as well to advance my career and specialising in surgery or gynaecology someday. But I was scared I'd be made to stay in a boys' hostel just because my academic records say I'm a male, even though I've undergone reassignment surgery. The judgment has given me reassurance and done me justice," she said. She also hoped the judgment would raise awareness about the rights of transgender people, who often face marginalisation and systemic barriers. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.

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