HC directs TN Dr MGR Medical University to form committee for transgender persons

Chennai: The Madras High Court recently directed the TN Dr MGR Medical University to set up a committee, which would be accessible to transgender persons at the university level as per the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020.

While considering a plea alleging discrimination against a medical student, the HC bench comprising Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan has issued a direction to the University to set up the committee within 12 weeks.

The plea before the HC bench was moved alleging discrimination and the demand for an additional fee by the management of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Perambalur.

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As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the petitioner alleged that even though he paid the entire course fee, the management insisted on the payment of an additional fee after completion of his five-year course. Despite a professional degree certificate being issued, the college withheld other original educational certificates, demanding payment of additional fees.

During the hearing of the case, the counsel for the institute informed the court that they intended to waive any fee arrears and were ready to return all the original certificates of the petitioner.

After recording the submissions, the Court observed that the certificates of the students could not be withheld over the issue of fees, as educational institutions can claim no lien over the certificates.

Taking note of the petitioner's allegation that he faced several instances of discrimination during his course of study at the institute and the petitioner's claim that there was a lack of a university-level committee as mandated under the law, the HC bench directed the State University to constitute the committee within 12 weeks.

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