Northeast India’s First Transgender Doctor Wins Legal Battle to Reissue Academic Certificates
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Imphal, August 20, 2025 — In a landmark ruling for transgender rights in India’s Northeast, Dr. Beoncy Laishram—recognized as the region’s first transgender doctor—won a crucial legal victory in the Manipur High Court. The court has ordered educational boards and institutions to reissue all her academic and medical certificates to reflect her female name and gender identity of “female”, replacing her former identity as male (Boboi Laishram) that appeared on earlier records.
Dr. Laishram, who underwent gender reassignment surgery in October 2019, had already updated identity documents like her Aadhaar, Voter ID, and PAN card based on a transgender certificate issued by the District Magistrate of Imphal West. However, educational authorities—including the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM), Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM), Manipur University, and the Manipur Medical Council—refused her requests to update academic certificates, blocking her from pursuing postgraduate medical education, including taking the NEET-PG examination.
Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma ruled that sections 6 and 7 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, along with Rule 2(d) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, clearly empower transgender individuals—even after gender reassignment surgery—to update their name and gender in all official documents. The court ordered the concerned bodies to issue revised certificates within one month and directed the Manipur Chief Secretary to ensure that the provisions of the Act are integrated into institutional rules moving forward.
Expressing relief and gratitude, Dr. Laishram said the ruling brings justice and a sense of belonging, freeing her to continue building her medical career without identity-related obstacles.
Legal experts and activists hailed the judgment as a precedent-setting moment. It reinforces statutory rights and underscores that bureaucratic inaction cannot override constitutional protections. Bonita Pebam, a transgender rights activist from the Northeast, described the ruling as “not just a victory for Dr. Beoncy but for the entire transgender community in the region,” offering new hope to those fighting for recognition.
This decision doesn’t just restore documents—it reaffirms legal identity and paves the way for broader acceptance and opportunities for transgender individuals across India.
