Vishakhapatnam: The Indian Navy has dismissed a sailor, Manish Kumar Giri, as he underwent a gender change surgery last year while on leave at a private facility.
The decision has been taken as he had joined the Navy as an Indian male citizen seven years ago. Giri may not also get a pension. To avail the benefits in armed forces, one has to serve at least 15 years, as per the norms, reports Times of India.
In its order, the Navy said, Giri “chose to undergo irreversible gender re-assignment on his own accord, whilst on leave wilfully altering his gender status from the one he was recruited for at the time of his induction.”
Giri had joined the mechanical engineering wing seven years ago, he was married at that time and had a child. He returned to the INS Eksila in Vizag after undergoing the gender change surgery in 2016.
“The existing service rules and regulations do not permit the sailor’s continued employment owing to his altered gender status, medical condition and resultant employability restrictions,” the Navy said.