Supreme Court Validates Transgender Identity Certificates for PAN Applications

The Supreme Court has acknowledged that identity certificates issued by district magistrates under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, are valid documents for PAN card applications. This decision, which awaits formal incorporation into legislative rules, aims to facilitate accurate identification for transgender individuals seeking to link their PAN and Aadhaar cards.

The Supreme Court has recognized that district magistrate-issued identity certificates under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, will be considered valid for applying for PAN cards.

Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah noted the government's in-principle agreement to incorporate this recognition into formal rules, ensuring clarity.

This move follows a 2018 plea by Reshma Prasad, a social activist, who faced challenges linking her PAN with Aadhaar due to the absence of a 'third gender' option on the PAN card.

(With inputs from agencies.)