New Delhi, Feb 26: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has issued a directive to its field units prohibiting personnel from seeking permission for gender change procedures. The decision follows an assessment by the medical wing of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), which expressed concerns that such transitions could negatively impact the psychological well-being and behavioral patterns of force members.
According to official sources, the directive was issued two days ago after a female ITBP personnel sought approval for a gender transition. Given the absence of specific guidelines on gender change in central service conduct rules or the ITBP Act, the force consulted the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for clarification.
Following a joint analysis by the MHA and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the ITBP was instructed to seek an opinion from the CAPFs' medical directorate before forming a policy stance. The medical wing, in its response, stated that gender change requests should not be entertained, citing potential psychological and behavioral repercussions. It also noted that the force has distinct physical eligibility criteria for male and female personnel, which would not be met post-transition.
Consequently, the ITBP has instructed all field formations to follow this stance in future cases. Senior officials within CAPFs acknowledge that the issue warrants deeper discussion, but at present, the paramilitary forces are not equipped to accommodate gender transition cases within their operational framework.
This directive follows a precedent set a few years ago when the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) allowed a female personnel to be recognized as a male jawan after undergoing a sex change procedure. However, CAPFs, including the ITBP, currently lack a uniform policy on handling such requests, necessitating further deliberation and policy formulation.
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