The High Court of Manipur on Tuesday directed state authorities, including the Manipur Medical Council, to issue fresh educational certificates to a doctor who underwent gender reassignment surgery, recognising her new name and gender identity.
The case was brought before the court by 32-year-old Dr. Beoncy Laishram, who was born male and named Boboi Laishram in all her academic and professional records. After undergoing a sex reassignment surgery on October 8, 2019, she transitioned to female and sought correction of her official certificates to reflect her new identity.
Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma, presiding over the matter, noted that Dr. Laishram’s name and sex were recorded as male in her Class 10 and 12 certificates, MBBS degree, and Medical Council registration. Despite having legally changed her name and gender—now recognised in her Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, and even a transgender identity card issued by the District Magistrate of Imphal West—her requests to amend educational documents were rejected by the respective boards and universities.
The bench observed that under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and the Transgender Rules, 2020, Dr. Laishram is entitled to recognition of her self-identified gender. The authorities’ refusal to update her certificates was found inconsistent with the rights guaranteed under the law.
“The District Magistrate of Imphal West has already issued a transgender identity card under the new name, Dr. Beoncy Laishram, with gender as female. Subsequently, her Aadhaar, PAN, and voter ID also reflect the same,” the court recorded.
The High Court directed the Board of Secondary Education Manipur, the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, and Manipur University to issue fresh certificates in Dr. Laishram’s new name and gender within one month. The court further instructed the state Chief Secretary to ensure compliance by issuing necessary directions to all establishments.
