Court Recognises Right to New Identity
The High Court of Manipur has directed authorities, including the state Medical Council, to issue fresh educational certificates to Dr. Beoncy Laishram, a doctor who underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2019 and is now officially recognised as female.
Petition Filed After Authorities Denied Request
Dr. Laishram, formerly registered as Boboi Laishram, approached the court after educational boards and universities refused to reissue her certificates with her new name and gender. Despite having an updated Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, and a transgender identity card, her academic and professional records still reflected her old identity.
Court Acknowledges Legal Transition
Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma noted that the petitioner had undergone surgery on October 8, 2019, and had since been officially recognised as a woman. Her new identity was validated by the Imphal West District Magistrate and reflected in government-issued IDs.
Boards and Universities Directed to Comply
The court observed that despite repeated requests, institutions such as the Board of Secondary Education Manipur, the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, and Manipur University failed to update her documents. It ordered them to issue fresh certificates under her new name and gender within one month.
Legal Basis Under Transgender Act
The bench cited provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and the Transgender Rules, 2020, as the legal foundation for the ruling. The Manipur Chief Secretary has been tasked with ensuring compliance across establishments.
