Release pending Rs 21,000 post-surgery aid to transgender man, Kerala High Court orders

The Kerala High Court has ordered the Directorate of Social Justice to release Rs 21,000 in pending financial aid for a transgender man's post-operative treatment, following his sex reassignment surgery. The petitioner had initially received Rs 15,000 out of the Rs 36,000 he sought under the government assistance scheme. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan ruled in favor of the petitioner, directing the authorities to disburse the remaining amount within two months of receiving a certified copy of the judgment.

The government had stated that it was processing the payment and awaiting necessary sanction. The petitioner, who identified as a transgender man, had submitted an application for the aid through the state government's website on September 1, 2025, and made a representation on September 11 this year. The court's order directed the release of the eligible amount, but did not explicitly grant the petitioner's request for interest on the claimed assistance.