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The blood donor guidelines by central Government under challenge (5 March 2021)

The blood donor guidelines by central Government under challenge (5 March 2021)

 

The blood donor guidelines impose a blanket ban on Transgender persons, female sex workers, etc. from donating blood., a writ petition filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court A Bench led by  issued notice on the petition after hearing Advocate Jayna Kothari asked for grant an interim relief which was refused by a bench headed by CJI SA Bobde stating  that the court is not an expert in scientific issues . However court issued notice to the center for reply .

Thangjam Santa Singh a member of the Transgender community has taken plea in the Public Interest Litigation  that Clauses 12 and 51 of the said guidelines consider transgender persons, gay men and female sex workers to be a high-risk HIV/ AIDS category and prohibit them from donating blood .Exclusion of the above class of persons, solely on the basis of their gender identities/ sexual orientation, is not only unreasonable but also unscientific.

"All blood units that are collected from donors are tested for infectious diseases including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS and hence permanently excluding them from donating blood and categorising them as high-risk only on the basis of their gender identity and sexual orientation is violative of their right to be treated equ It adds,

"The prohibition of transgender persons, men having sex with men and female sex workers is due to assumptions based on negative stereotypes which amounts to discrimination under Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution and they are denied equal dignity under Article 14 as they are deemed less worthy and subordinate in social participation and healthcare."

 ally as other blood donors."

In support to his argument ,petitioner also referred to the decided case by Supreme court NALSA v. Union of India, (2014) 5 SCC 438 and Navtej Johar v. Union of India, (2018) 10 SCC 1.wherein it was prescribed not to make deferrals based on gender identities and they merely prescribe a 3 month or 45-day deferral from the last high-risk sexual contact.It is further averred that across the world, guidelines on blood donation have been updated to the above stand .

In this backdrop, the plea states,

"blood donor guidelines need to be based on an individualized system for all donors based on and not perceived risk and not based on identities. The present impugned Guidelines are stigmatizing as they are not based on how HIV transmission actually works, nor are they based on the actual risks involved in specific activities but are based only on the identities of donors such as, whether they are transgender, gay or bisexual men or female sex workers."

Now ball is in the court of central Government to take stand-whether to defend their stand or to change it . It appears it is going to be an issue of fundamental right and may call for a debate on the issue .

 

 

 

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