Bombay High Court Allows Transgender Person to Withdraw Plea for Protection after Parents Accept Sexual Identity

The Bombay High Court panel of Judge Revati Mohit Dhere and Justice Gauri Godse recently allowed a transgender person to withdraw his petition for police protection after his parents approved his choice.

“(Parents) say that they have accepted the petitioner’s gender identity, and as such say that they will shower the petitioner and their child with love and affection and will support him or her in every way, by giving emotional, mental and physical support, as well as any other support, including support for the petitioner’s educational activities.” .

The petitioner alleged that he had been accepted by his parents and had been living with them for the past 20 days, and had therefore sought permission to withdraw the petition.

However, the petitioner added that he should be given freedom to contact the police should an occasion arise in the future, so as to enable him and his partner to be given the necessary protection and assistance.

The petitioner was born female but identified as a transgender man. The petitioner claimed that he did not reveal his identity for fear of not being accepted by his family.

The petitioner further alleged that when his parents learned of his sexual identity, they began to harass and threaten him, which as a result forced him to leave his residence and move to a boarding house.

Since the petitioner was keen to pursue his education and because he was making an arrest for the harm done to him, he submitted the petition to the Bombay High Court asking for relief and police protection.

The hearing was held by the divisional council in the room. The court then granted the petitioner liberty to withdraw the petition after the parents’ acceptance.