Govt Should Take Steps To Include Column For Transgenders In Online Form For Name Change In Official Gazette: Bombay HC

While hearing a petition filed by a 29-year-old transgender, the Bombay High Court has observed that the state government should take steps to include a column for transgenders in the online application form for change of name in the official gazette.

A division bench of Justice AS Oka and Justice MS Sanklecha noted that considering the wide range of issues raised in the petition, it should be converted into public interest litigation (PIL) and directed the registry to do the same.

Advocate Jyoti Chavan is appearing on behalf of the petitioner who in an earlier hearing had sought Rs.50,000 compensation for the harassment caused to her client apart from "the mental pain and agony".

According to the petition, the petitioner's application to the Directorate of Government and Printing Stationery to change the name was rejected thrice. The petitioner was born a woman but she started identifying herself as a transgender from 2014. Thus, she adopted a gender-neutral name and wanted to pursue LLB with the new identity but when she finally decided to change it legally, her application was rejected.

The petitioner's first application was rejected on the ground that relevant documents were not attached. This was in November 2018. Then it was rejected for the second time in December 2018, on the ground that no reason for seeking such name change was stated in the application, whereas the third rejection came in January 2019 without citing any reason.

Thereafter, the petitioner physically went to the Gazette Office in order to submit her form but there she was told that her application was the first of its kind and that the online application form for change of name did not accept change of gender as a reason for the same. After this, the petition was filed.

The court posted the hearing post vacations on June 14.