NALSAR issues gender-neutral certificate

Student Anindita Mukherjee made a request for such a certificate, with an honorific ‘Mx’ instead of ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’.

June 20, 2015 02:22 am | Updated 04:37 am IST - HYDERABAD:

The first third gender certificate issued by NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. It is said to be first such certificate issued by a university in the country.

The first third gender certificate issued by NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. It is said to be first such certificate issued by a university in the country.

NALSAR University of Law here has issued India’s “first gender-neutral certificate” with the honorific ‘Mx’ after a student requested it instead of ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’.

However, the decision had its own controversies with a section of teachers saying the academic bodies of the university have not cleared the move, which, they say, is mandatory for such major changes.

The provisional certificate was issued to Mx. Anindita Mukherjee. But whether the honorific will remain in the final certificate is a question now. The degree has to be signed by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as he is the Chancellor.

Several teachers, who wish to remain anonymous, say the Academic Council, comprising High Court judges and Vice-Chancellors of various universities, should have a debate on any major changes to be introduced.

“We don’t even know whether the Chancellor has been informed about it,” a senior teacher says. “There is nothing wrong in accepting a new honorific, but that has to be debated first, more so when we are claiming that it is India’s first such certificate.”

Sources say the University Registrar signed the certificate after Examination Committee Convener Amita Dhanda sent it, along with other certificates, for his signature.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.