Cop moves Bombay High Court to seek leave for sex surgery

Police constable Lalita Salve recently sought a month's leave from the police department to undergo a sexual reassignment surgery. The leave was denied to Salve on Thursday and she has now moved the Bombay High Court.

Advocate Ejaz Naqvi, appearing for Salve, mentioned the petition before the bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur, which refused to hear the plea, and asked him to approach the appropriate bench. The relief sought in the petition by Salve, is based on the medical examination conducted, which states that 'Y' chromosomes were found, in him and thus she wants to undergo the surgery, to live a dignified life.

The plea further claims that the government should bear expenses for conducting the sex change surgery and allow her to continue the job as a male constable. Lalita who now calls herself as Lalit Salve, stated in the plea, "Sex reassigning as per her emotional inclination towards straight male, it is her natural right and in the heart of the Fundamental right of the Constitution to live with dignity instead of being a transgender."

The petition also wants the court to quash and set aside the communication issued by the Inspector General (Aurangabad range), dated November 20, denying her months leave, to carry out the reassignment surgery. Salve also claims that the state government has not promulgated adequate policy about rescuing such distressed citizens with gender identity trauma.

IDENTITY CHANGE

In 2014, constable Lalita Salve underwent a medical test, which indicated she had male genes. In 2016, Salve again took a test at J J Hospital which suggested her to change her sex.