Kochi: In a landmark verdict, the Kerala High Court ruled in favor of a petition filed by transgender parents seeking the use of the term ‘parents’ instead of ‘father’ and ‘mother’ in their child’s birth certificate.
Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. issued the judgment on the plea filed by Sahad and Ziya Paval, Kerala’s first transgender couple from Kozhikode.
They had approached the Kozhikode Corporation with this request, which was denied, prompting them to approach the High Court. The court observed that refusing such a request would be a violation of their and their child’s fundamental rights.
It also noted that similar legal provisions exist in many other countries, reinforcing the right to dignity and equality.