Name Change After Sex Reassignment Surgery|| Allahabad HC Questions About Guidelines

By Monalisha Sethi

7 August 2024, 3:48 PM7 August 2024, 3:48 PM

1 minute, 55 seconds Read

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

The Allahabad High Court sought guidelines on the process of changing names after sex reassignment surgery. This inquiry emerged from a case involving a transman seeking to update his name, gender, and other details in his school records.

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court instructed the State to investigate whether any regulations, guidelines, or government orders exist that allow for the change of name, gender, and other details for individuals who have undergone gender or sex reassignment surgery.

This issue came to light during a case involving a transman who sought to update his name, gender, and other details in his school records following his surgery.

During the proceedings, the court inquired whether any rules or guidelines governed the process of changing one’s name and gender after such surgery. The petitioner’s lawyer unable to identify any relevant rules or guidelines.

Recognizing the absence of such regulations, Justice Alok Mathur directed the State to submit a report on this matter by August 20.

The court’s directive stated,

“Accordingly, learned Standing Counsel is directed to find out existence of any rule, guideline or Government Order which may provide for change of name, gender and other details of a person who has undergone Gender re-assignment surgery, and place the same before this Court on the next date of listing.”

The petitioner informed the Court that he had voluntarily undergone gender reassignment surgery to affirm his male gender. Subsequently, he changed his name to Vedant Maurya, a change that was recorded in the government of India’s Gazette last year.

After this, Vedant applied to the Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Prayagraj, to update their records, but no action was taken. Consequently, he sought the High Court‘s intervention for updating his records.

The State counsel did not oppose Vedant’s request. The Court then directed the State Board in Prayagraj to review and decide on Vedant’s application for updating his details within four weeks.