In a significant ruling, the Calcutta High Court has directed the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata to consider the application of a transgender woman for a new passport, taking into account her official transgender identity card.

Justice Amrita Sinha, while disposing of the writ petition, observed:
"The petitioner shall take steps in accordance with law for the purpose of obtaining the passport. The transgender identity card of the petitioner shall be taken into account at the time of consideration of the petitioner's application for a passport."

The petitioner, Anuprabha Das Majumder, had approached the court after her passport application was rejected, despite her possession of a valid transgender ID card. She claimed that the application had been pending for over a year without resolution.

Taking note of her grievance, the High Court directed the authorities to duly consider her transgender status in processing the application.

Case Title: Anuprabha Das Majumder v. Union of India & Ors.
Case Number: W.P.A 18641 of 2024