Transgender teacher dismissed from job, the case was heard in the Supreme Court

Delhi. The Supreme Court has reserved its decision in the case of dismissal of a transgender teacher by private schools in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat after her gender identity was revealed. The Supreme Court described the matter as “important” and said that we will decide it soon.

In fact, the transgender teacher had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, in which she alleged that different private schools in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh fired her from the job after her gender identity was revealed. The petition also said that the schools cited the fact that she was not punctual as the main reason behind her dismissal, while the petitioner’s lawyer linked it to “social stigma” and argued that the teacher had to face disdain and discrimination on the basis of her gender identity.

The petitioner’s lawyer also told the Supreme Court that, “This is a serious matter, which shows how a transgender teacher is disdainful just because of her identity.” He said that the school administration already knew that the teacher was a transwoman and she was living in the women’s hostel with the students, yet as soon as it came to light that she was a transwoman, the school administration dismissed her. In response to this, the school administration argued that the teacher was not punctual, and hence she was dismissed. However, in this case, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the UP and Gujarat governments and sought their response.