The Kerala High Court has directed the state Directorate of Social Justice to disburse Rs 21,000 in outstanding post-operative financial aid to a transgender man who underwent sex reassignment surgery, ordering the payment to be completed within two months of receiving a certified copy of the judgment.
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan issued the direction while disposing of a writ petition filed by the individual, who had approached the court after state authorities failed to release the remaining portion of the assistance. The petitioner had applied for Rs 36,000 under a state government welfare scheme supporting post-operative care and medical recovery following sex reassignment surgery, but had received only an initial disbursement of Rs 15,000.
State Cites Pending Administrative Approval
During the hearing on October 8, the government pleader submitted that the administration was actively taking steps to process the remaining funds. The state explained that authorities were awaiting formal sanction from the relevant department before the money could be released.
The court took note of the government’s stance and instructed the director of the Directorate of Social Justice to clear the eligible balance of Rs 21,000 expeditiously within the two-month timeframe. The petitioner had also requested that the unpaid sum be released with an annual interest rate of 18 per cent; however, the court did not grant any interest on the claim.
Application History And Scope Of Ruling
According to court filings, the petitioner submitted an online application for financial assistance through the Kerala government website on September 1, 2025, and subsequently submitted a representation to authorities on September 11 of this year. The judgment did not detail why the remaining balance was held up or how the department processed the submission.
The ruling remained strictly limited to the petitioner’s specific grievance. The court did not establish a wider policy framework or mandate uniform timelines for processing other pending post-operative aid applications across the state.
The respondents in the petition included the Department of Social Justice, the director of the directorate, the Kerala State Transgender Board, and the Transgender Cell functioning under the directorate. Documents submitted in the case included the petitioner’s transgender identity card, medical certificates detailing the surgery, and state government orders governing financial assistance dated November 14, 2018, and August 22, 2023.
