HC warns youth who threatened suicide

The Bombay High Court on Thursday admonished 21-year-old gender dysphoric from Guwahati, Bhidan Barua, to stop blackmailing judiciary system by threatening to commit suicide if his petition was not heard immediately.

The matter had come up for hearing on Wednesday, when Justices S F Vajifdar and A R Joshi, refused to hear it and posted the hearing for May 7. Bhidan, who now calls himself Swati, then threatened to commit suicide if his petition was not heard and orders were not passed in his favour.

Bhidan wrote letters to Chief Justice of India, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court and National Human Rights Commission urging them to intervene in the matter immediately. Following the letters, the court summoned Bhidan’s counsel Ejaz Naqvi and explicitly stated that the matter would be heard only on May 7 and not before that.

Bhidan, in his petition had alleged that his parents have blocked his bank account due to which he has been reduced to a state of penury and was “unable to pay lawyer’s fees.”

However, the court, informed Bhidan, “if he so desired an amicus curie (friend of the court) would be appointed to assist him in legal proceedings.”

Bhidan had come to Mumbai for a sex change operation so that he can marry a flight lieutenant in the Indian Air Force. His parents hearing about his decision rushed to Mumbai and threatened hospital authorities with legal action.

Detailing his transgender identity dysphoric, Bhidan in his letter expressed disillusionment at the justice system, “I was due to undergo sex change surgery for which I left my job but my parents have blocked my bank account. I have no money to pay for the operation fees. For the past two weeks, I am running from door to door seeking justice but the court does not have time to hear me.

“I do not have any money for my food, lodging. So I am finally requesting the court to pass an immediate order against my family or grant me an order for an authorised suicide. I will kill myself if I do not get an order for my surgery by this evening. For my suicide, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court will be responsible.”