Backed by mother, Kerala trans man moves HC to freeze eggs before sex change surgery

Hari Devageeth, a 28-year-old transgender man from Kerala, is challenging the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act in High Court. He was denied the option to freeze his eggs by a fertility clinic because the Act only allows such services to cisgender men and women within specific age ranges. Hari, who is undergoing sex-assignment surgery, wants to preserve his reproductive options before losing his ovaries. He argues that denying him this right violates his constitutional rights, specifically Article 21, which includes the right to reproductive autonomy. His case highlights the legal gap regarding assisted reproductive technologies for transgender individuals in India. While natural procreation is possible, the ART Act's restrictions create barriers for transgender individuals seeking fertility preservation. Hari's lawyer seeks interim relief to allow him to proceed with cryopreservation while acknowledging the need for broader statutory changes to protect the reproductive rights of transgender individuals.