Tamil Nadu to ban sex reassignment surgeries

The Tamil Nadu government has banned sex reassignment surgeries for intersex infants and children, in a move which is being seen as progressive. The development comes after Madras High Court’s direction to the department of health family and welfare to issue an order ‘enshrining the mandate of the Supreme Court.’ The order, however, mentioned that the reassignment surgeries will be allowed in cases of life-threatening situations, which will be decided after the recommendations of a committee comprising of a paediatric surgeon/urologist, an endocrinologist, a social worker and a government representative not below the rank of Under Secretary. The committee will be constituted by the Director of Medical Education.