CHENNAI: A transgender, who was born Pradeep Kumar but became Pratika Yashini after a sex re-assignment surgery, has moved the Madras high court asking that her school and college level certificates and passport be updated by identifying her as a female with her new name.
Justice T S Sivagnanam has asked authorities to take action on her representation within a period of eight weeks.
A post-graduate diploma in computer applications and a student of ayurvedic medicine, Pratika said she felt some changes during her higher secondary studies. "I understood that I am not as normal as any other male. I could feel my physical features drifting towards feminine character," she said. She consulted a doctor who confirmed that she was indeed a transgender. She underwent a sex re-assignment surgery in November 2011 at Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai.
In October 2013, she changed her name as Pratika Yashini from Pradeep Kumar, and got it published in government gazette. Pratika said she now needed her updated documents and certificates to pursue higher studies and for employment. Despite the sex re-assignment surgery and change of name which had been duly notified, institutions and companies still go by her original name of Pradeep Kumar, she said, adding, "Society is still illiterate to accept me or similar people as transgenders." Though she has submitted two representations to the authorities concerned, changes have not been carried out on her certificates, she said. Authorities are not receiving or acknowledging her representations, she said, adding, "I have been made to run from pillar to post."
She wanted the court to direct the authorities to make necessary changes in all her records and certificates, indicating her present name.
Justice T S Sivagnanam has asked authorities to take action on her representation within a period of eight weeks.
A post-graduate diploma in computer applications and a student of ayurvedic medicine, Pratika said she felt some changes during her higher secondary studies. "I understood that I am not as normal as any other male. I could feel my physical features drifting towards feminine character," she said. She consulted a doctor who confirmed that she was indeed a transgender. She underwent a sex re-assignment surgery in November 2011 at Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai.
In October 2013, she changed her name as Pratika Yashini from Pradeep Kumar, and got it published in government gazette. Pratika said she now needed her updated documents and certificates to pursue higher studies and for employment. Despite the sex re-assignment surgery and change of name which had been duly notified, institutions and companies still go by her original name of Pradeep Kumar, she said, adding, "Society is still illiterate to accept me or similar people as transgenders." Though she has submitted two representations to the authorities concerned, changes have not been carried out on her certificates, she said. Authorities are not receiving or acknowledging her representations, she said, adding, "I have been made to run from pillar to post."
She wanted the court to direct the authorities to make necessary changes in all her records and certificates, indicating her present name.
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