Imphal: In a historic landmark for transgender rights, the Manipur High Court on Tuesday directed the state authorities to issue fresh educational certificates for a transgender doctor with a new name and a gender.
This is the first such verdict in the Northeast region, where a court ruled in favour of a petitioner who is transgender, WP(C) No. 392 of 2024.
In the judgment, the court directed the Board of Secondary Education (BOSEM), Council of Higher Education (COHSEM), Manipur University and Manipur Medical Council to issue fresh educational certificates to petitioner, a transgender doctor and allowing her to replace her birth name ‘Boboi Laishram’ and gender ‘male’ with her chosen name ‘Beoncy Laishram’ and gender ‘female’.
Hearing a petition filed by 32-year-old Dr Beoncy Laishram, a single bench of Justice A Guneshwar Sharma, informed “the petitioner is a biological male and her name is recorded as ‘Boboi Laishram’ in all certificates and documents. In her matriculation certificate, Class-12 certificate, M.B.B.S. certificate, Medical Council registration certificate and other educational certificates, the petitioner’s name is recorded as ‘Boboi Laishram’ and gender as ‘male’. However, on October 8, 2019 the petitioner has undergone gender reassignment surgery. Thereafter, the gender of the petitioner has been
changed from ‘male’ to ‘female’.”
“District Magistrate Imphal West had previously issued a transgender identity card under the new name as ‘Dr. Beoncy Laishram’ with gender as ‘female’ and date of birth as 08.03.1991. Subsequently, the new name and gender of the petitioner has been updated in her Aadhaar card, Voter ID card and PAN card respectively” the court orders noted.
“The petitioner had approached to the Chairman, Board of Secondary Education Manipur, the Chairman, Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, the Registrar, Manipur University (MU) requesting to change gender and name on the education certificate as ‘Beoncy Laishram’ and gender as ‘female’ in place of ‘Boboi Laishram’ and gender as ‘male’. However, none of the authority have acceded to her request” the court noted.
The court, in its decision, said “in the circumstances, the present writ petition is allowed and the respondent BOSEM COHSEM, Manipur University and Manipur Medical Council are directed to issue fresh education certificates under the new name and gender of the petitioner as ‘Beoncy Laishram’ and gender as ‘female’ in place of the original birth name ‘Boboi Laishram’ & 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…within one month.”
The court also informed that the “Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur shall issue necessary directions to all the establishments”.
The Court also expressed its sincere appreciation of the assistance of all the appearing counsel, especially Jayna Kothari, senior counsel, in evolving rights of the transgender person as enshrined in Transgender Persons (Protection of
Rights) Act, 2019 and the Rules of 2020 and the judgment of the NALSA case.
“I am very happy because this is the moment we all have been waiting for, and this has set a legal precedent for the transgender community. And the judgment is a big win for the entire transgender community in the northeast region in particular and the country in general,” Shanta Khurai, a transgender rights activist from the state after the court verdict to EastMojo.
Recounting the long-pending legal battle, Khurai said that Dr Beoncy had reached out to her as she wanted to update her name and gender in her official documents. However, despite producing all the documents required, the concerned authorities rejected the petition.
“We sent a series of letters, litigation and legal literature, but they did not approve her request, putting her in a difficult situation. That’s when I suggested she file a legal petition,” she added.
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