Challenges in Creating Transgender Inclusive Textbooks
- Sept. 30, 2025, 4:14 p.m.
The SC on Monday (1.9.2025) looked for replies from the NCERT, Centre, and 6 states, including Maharashtra, on a PIL looking for blending of transgender comprehensive sexuality education in school curricula.
Justice K Vinod Chandran and the Chief Justice Bench of India B R Gavai published a notice in the plea after hearing submissions of the petitioner's representative, senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan.
Petitioner Kaavya Mukherjee Saha made Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana as the parties of the petition besides the Centre and the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
The court sought a response in 6 weeks, and the plea said that textbook reviews throughout Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana showed systemic omissions with partial exceptions in Kerala. It also said that this exclusion dismissed directive principles under Articles 39(e)-(f), 46, and 51(c) and violated Articles 14, 15, 19(1)(a), 21 & 21A of the Constitution.
The plea argued that most SCERTs & NCERT have failed to integrate examinable or structured content on gender diversity, gender identity, and the distinction between gender and sex in spite of the mandates of Sections 2(d) & 13 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
It reported non-compliance with the instructions of the SC issued in judgments in cases of Union of India or National Legal Services Authority and Vs Union of India and Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action.
