Lalit Salve to be discharged soon

Mumbai: Lalit Salve (29), the Beed constable who underwent genital reconstruction surgery (GRS) a fortnight ago at the state-run St George Hospital near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), will be discharged on Saturday morning, hospital authorities said.

Mr Salve underwent the first phase of surgeries and will have to wait for three to six months for the next one.

Talking to The Asian Age, head of plastic surgery, Dr Rajat Kapoor, said, “His stitches were removed and if all formalities are completed in time, Salve could be discharged in the morning itself.”

Mr Salve, who had spent 29 years as a woman and joined the force as a female constable, will receive benefits granted to male constables after joining duty.  “Salve on the resumption of duty will be treated as a male constable. We have received a letter from the director general of police (DGP) regarding this matter. According to the letter, Salve will get all benefits entitled to male constables after joining duty,” Beed superintendent of police G. Shreedhar said.

Mr Salve joined the force in June 2010. He sought permission for a month’s leave to undergo SRS in September 2017 but her superiors dismissed her plea in November. Following this, Mr Salve approached the Bombay high court and filed a petition where he noted that doctors who examined him found that he suffers from gender dysphoria, a condition in which one’s emotional and psychological individuality are at odds with their biological sex. However, the court had directed Mr Salve to approach the Maharashtra Admin-istrative Tribunal (MAT) since it was a service matter. In April, the constable sou-ght chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s intervention in the matter. Mr Fadnavis then directed the home department to treat his case
positively.