A Malayali, who underwent a sex change operation in Bangkok, moved the Kerala High Court seeking permission to correct ‘her’ gender from female to male, on all certificates including passport.
Post-operation, the body sported signs of gender transition including facial hair, making it difficult and ridiculous for him to travel with on a ‘female’ passport, the petitioner said.
The request for a new passport came up because the patient needed a four-phased treatment process to complete the gender transition.
Pathanamthitta native Haris (name changed) had approached the Tahsildar for a certificate but his plea was turned down. Haris sought the certificate so that it could be produced before the passport office as he needed to fly to Bangkok and complete the treatment.
The final phase of gender transition surgery included treatment for impotency and other vital issues, the petitioner argued before the court.
According to the Tahasildar, no such provisions exist for a gender change case and hence he refused to give a certificate. However, the petitioner is one step closer to getting a favourable court order as the medical team submitted a positive report after examining him. The medical team said the gender transition was complete.
Justice P.R. Ramachandran Nair had earlier asked the government to constitute a medical team and to file a report in this regard before the court. The court will consider the report and pass an order.