SC notice to Centre, UP and Guj over sacking of a trans teacher

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought replies from the Centre, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat on a petition moved by a transgender woman, who said she was sacked by two private schools in the two states after her gender identity was revealed.

- Utkarsh Anand

"The grievance of the petitioner is that her services were terminated in schools of UP and Gujarat after her gender identity was revealed. The petitioner says that she cannot pursue her remedies in two different high courts. Issue notice to the Union and the states, returnable after four weeks," directed a bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud.

The bench, which also comprised justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, admitted the petition moved by Jane Kaushik, 31, who stated that she was first fired by a private school in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri in December 2022 and was later in July 2023 asked not to join by another school in Gujarat for being open about her gender identity.