Supreme Court to examine plea for recognition of intersex persons as a distinct class

📌 Summary:

• The Supreme Court (July 17, 2026) sought responses from the Centre and States on a petition seeking a declaration that persons born with congenital variations in sex characteristics constitute a distinct and identifiable class
• A three-judge Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant issued notice on the plea filed by advocate Shamshravish Rein
• The petition asks the Union to frame separate statutory guidelines within six months to provide distinct recognition, protection and an affirmative-support framework for intersex persons — individuals born with differences of sex development (DSD)
• Constitutional angle: engages the right to equality (Art. 14), non-discrimination (Art. 15) and dignity/personal liberty (Art. 21); builds on NALSA (2014) jurisprudence on gender identity
• Significance: could lead to a formal legal category and affirmative safeguards (against non-consensual medical procedures on intersex infants, and for education/employment protection)