The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the government in response to a plea challenging the exclusion of transgender individuals, gay men, and sex workers from donating blood under existing guidelines.
The plea, filed by activist Sharif D Rangnekar, contests the 2017 guidelines that permanently defer these groups from blood donation due to perceived risks of HIV, hepatitis infections, and other Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTI).
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has called for responses from the Union government, the National Aids Control Organisation, and the National Blood Transfusion Council.
The guidelines in question bar transgender persons, men who have sex with men (MSM), and female sex workers from being eligible blood donors, citing their higher risk profiles for certain infections.
The court's decision to seek the government's stance marks a significant step in addressing the discriminatory practices faced by these communities in the context of blood donation. The 2017 guidelines have been criticized for perpetuating stigma and failing to consider advancements in screening and medical technology that could ensure safe blood donation practices for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Activist Sharif D Rangnekar's plea aims to overturn these guidelines, advocating for an inclusive and non-discriminatory approach to blood donation that focuses on individual risk assessments rather than blanket exclusions based on identity.