Transgender teacher fired over gender identity, takes case to Supreme Court

A transgender individual, whose teaching position was terminated by private schools in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh due to the disclosure of their gender identity, has approached the Supreme Court seeking justice for unfair dismissal from employment.

The apex court, comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwla and Manoj Misra, has taken notice of the plea filed by the transgender woman and issued notices to the Centre, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh governments.

"We will see what we can do," remarked the bench while acknowledging the plea and calling for responses from the concerned authorities, including the head of a school in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and the chairperson of another private school in Khiri, Uttar Pradesh.

Highlighting the petitioner's plight, the bench pointed out that the individual faced termination from employment in schools across both Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat after their gender identity became known. As a result, the petitioner has sought recourse in the Supreme Court, citing difficulties in pursuing remedies in two separate high courts.

The legal counsel representing the transgender person detailed the circumstances, stating that the individual received a letter of appointment in a school in Uttar Pradesh and taught for a brief period before being dismissed. Similarly, in a Gujarat-based school, the petitioner was initially offered a teaching position but was subsequently denied employment after their gender identity was disclosed.

The petitioner's plea aims at the protection and enforcement of their fundamental rights in the wake of discriminatory actions leading to their termination from teaching roles.

The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing of the plea in four weeks' time, acknowledging the urgency and significance of the case.