Beaten and thrown out of home for being transgender at 21, she refused to give up on her dream of becoming a doctor; at 31, Dr Koyyala Ruth John Paul becomes one of India’s first Dalit transgender women to earn an MD
When Dr Koyyala Ruth John Paul came out to her family as a transgender woman, she says she was beaten and forced to leave home. She was in the third year of her medical course. At a time when she could have lost the chance to continue her education, she found support among members of the transgender community and kept studying. Today, the doctor from Khammam district in Telangana has completed her MD in Emergency Medicine. At 31, she is among the first Dalit transgender women in India to achieve this qualification, as reported by The Indian Express. But the degree has not ended her struggle. She is still seeking official recognition of her gender in records and wants to work in a government hospital. Forced to leave home, she found support in her community Dr Ruth is the youngest of three siblings and grew up in Khammam. Her father died of a cardiac arrest in 2006, after which her mother, a daily wage labourer, raised the three children. Books remained an important part of her life. She says she was inspired by the life and work of Dr BR Ambedkar, particularly his emphasis on dignity, education and the fight against caste discrimination. Ruth completed her Class 10 and Class 12 examinations with good results. She enrolled for medicine using the gender assigned to her at birth. However, during her third year of medical studies, she came out to her family. She said that her family struggled to accept her identity. “They beat me and threw me out of the house,” she said. She said she saw begging and sex work as the two options available to her at the time. She eventually connected with educated members of the transgender community, who helped her continue her studies. Hyderabad-based transgender activists Rachana Mudraboyina and Vyjayanthi Vasantha Mogli supported her during this period. She completed her MBBS in 2019 from a medical college in Hyderabad. Her relationship with her family has since improved. They are now reconciled and support her. A medical career, but repeated rejection In August 2023, she joined the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad for an MD in Emergency Medicine. After completing her MBBS, Ruth faced difficulties finding work. As per a 2022 TOI report, 15 hospitals in Hyderabad had turned her away after her graduation in 2018. The report also said that she and another transgender doctor, Prachi Rathore, were appointed as medical officers at the state-run Osmania General Hospital, becoming the first transgender duo to get government jobs in Telangana. “It is a huge day for me and my community. I really did not expect this because I was rejected ever since I graduated. They never told me outright, but the reason was apparent,” Ruth told TOI at the time. Her next challenge was securing a postgraduate medical seat. She appeared for and cleared NEET-PG three times between 2021 and 2023. Although the application form allowed her to register as an SC transgender woman, she said she was placed in the women’s category during counselling. She approached the Telangana High Court in 2021, seeking recognition as a Scheduled Caste transgender woman for admission purposes. In 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC) wrote to her that she could not be included in the transgender category during counselling because there was no precedent for such an inclusion. The issue also came before the Telangana High Court in June 2023. As reported by The Times of India, the court questioned whether prejudice was preventing a transgender candidate from securing a postgraduate medical seat. It sought details of the marks of candidates admitted under the Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes categories. The court’s observations came amid a dispute over how Ruth should be considered during NEET-PG counselling. Her lawyers argued that transgender candidates should be recognised as a separate category in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions. In August 2023, she joined the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad for an MD in Emergency Medicine. At the time, she had become the first transgender person to join a postgraduate medical programme in the state. She had wanted to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, but was allotted Emergency Medicine. The legal dispute over her recognition as a transgender candidate continued. According to the Indian Express report, the case is still pending before the Telangana High Court. In 2023, the court passed an interim order allowing her admission, but in the women’s category. She said she was thrilled when the MD examination results were announced on October 9. Why she chose medicine For Ruth, becoming a doctor was not only about completing a degree. She was also concerned about the difficulties transgender women faced in accessing healthcare. She says that she had seen transgender women in her neighbourhood living with HIV/AIDS who struggled to receive proper medical attention because of their identity. After facing difficulties finding work, she joined Mitr Transgender Clinic, a specialised healthcare network for the transgender community that was initially funded by USAID. The Hyderabad clinic shut down after funding cuts in 2025. It reopened in May that year as Sabrang Clinic in Narayanguda. She now works at ESIC Hospital in Hyderabad. Her older brother’s name, John Paul, is the surname she has chosen to use. According to her, he had wanted to become a doctor, but their mother could not afford to fund his education. Completing her MD has taken Ruth another step towards the career she wanted. But she says she still wants her gender to be correctly reflected in official records and hopes to work in a government hospital, where she can treat people who cannot afford private healthcare. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Akhilesh Yadav questions Amit Shah over crimes against women, Dalits in U.P.
Home Minister should look into why women face so much injustice in Uttar Pradesh, why the state witnesses so many murders and why people from the Dalit community are among the worst affected, Akhilesh Yadav said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (October 31, 2026) questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over crimes against women and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, while party MP Awadhesh Prasad said the BJP had lost ground in the state, citing its recent electoral setbacks. “Home Minister should look into why women face so much injustice in Uttar Pradesh, why the state witnesses so many murders and why people from the Dalit community are among the worst affected,” Mr. Yadav said. Uniform Civil Code in U.P. if BJP voted to power again: Amit Shah Reacting to Mr. Shah’s assertion that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was firmly established and could not be dislodged, Mr. Prasad said the party’s political footing had already weakened. Mr. Shah had on Friday (October 30) compared the BJP government’s position in the state to “Angad’s foot”, saying nobody could move it, and expressed confidence that the party would return to power. “The foot has already been uprooted,” Mr. Prasad told PTI Videos. He said the BJP had failed to retain several seats in the recent Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections despite making every effort. He cited the party’s defeats in Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been elected, as well as in Lucknow and Agra. He also referred to its defeat in Prayagraj, a prominent educational centre. He also cited the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, saying the BJP had failed to achieve its target of winning all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. No government jobs in Uttar Pradesh for protesters ‘involved in regime change through violence’ “Under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership, the Samajwadi Party won 37 seats, while the Congress won six. The opposition INDIA bloc secured 43 of the state’s 80 seats,” he said. Mr. Shah had announced on Friday (October 30) that the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttar Pradesh if voted to power again. He had also targeted the SP leadership over the Ram temple issue, referring to the police firing on kar sevaks in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990, and saying the SP had ordered firing on Ram devotees while the BJP had built the Ram temple. Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
SC Seeks Centre’s Response on PIL Over Transgender Law, Women’s Rights
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the Centre’s response to a PIL by Women’s Declaration International India questioning the potential impact of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, on constitutional and statutory protections reserved for biological women. Women’s Declaration International India raises concerns over women’s reservations, prison accommodation, sports participation and legal safeguards under the amended transgender rights law. The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the response of the Centre on a PIL filed by a women’s organisation, raising concerns over the potential impact of transgender rights legislation on constitutional and statutory protections and benefits reserved for biological women. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notices to the Union Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Law and Justice, and Health and Family Welfare on the PIL. The plea, filed by Women’s Declaration International India, raises questions relating to women’s reservations in local bodies, accommodation of transgender persons in prisons, participation in women’s sporting competitions, and safeguards available to women during arrest, searches and criminal investigations. The petition was tagged with the batch of cases challenging provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, including changes concerning the recognition of transgender identity. Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner organisation, said the plea raised a distinct perspective because it was brought by a women’s organisation and addressed the potential implications of the legislation for women’s rights. “Our concern is the impact on constitutional and statutory benefits exclusive to biological females. Those protections must remain and cannot be interfered with. Transgender persons must have equal rights and privileges, but the question is whether those rights can encroach upon protections reserved for biological women,” Sibal said. The bench noted the issues were already under consideration in a batch of petitions challenging the validity of provisions of the legislation. Justice Bagchi cautioned that filing other similar petitions could delay the proceedings, particularly as the existing batch was nearly ready for hearing. Sibal, however, maintained the petition was not a repetition of the pending challenges and raised a separate cause concerning women’s rights. The CJI said the petitioner might have a point but noted that the matter was already sub judice, adding the plea would introduce another perspective into the ongoing proceedings. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the government was preparing its response in the connected batch of cases and would address the concerns raised in the present petition as well. During the hearing, the solicitor general highlighted questions concerning gender identity and access to sex-specific facilities and protection. These included participation in women’s sporting events, accommodation in women’s prisons, access to women’s toilets, and statutory safeguards requiring women to be searched or have their statements recorded by women police officers in specified circumstances, the top law officer said. He also raised a hypothetical question concerning the application of restrictions on the arrest of women after sunset where a person accused of an offence identifies as a woman. He said the issue was not the right to identify as transgender, but the implications of the legal rights and protections attached to that identification. Sibal reiterated that the petitioner did not oppose the right to identify as transgender and said the right should be respected, with appropriate amenities provided. He also raised questions about whether transgender persons should have separate reservations or be eligible to claim seats reserved for women in panchayats. Courtesy : DC Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanchronicle.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
FIR against 2 for molesting Dalit woman
Pilibhit: An FIR was registered against two men for allegedly molesting a 30-year-old Dalit woman, hurling casteist slurs at her and threatening to kill her in Pilibhit, police said on Monday. The incident took place on Oct 23 when the woman had gone with her cousin to use a toilet near a village pond, about 700m from her home. The accused, both farmers from the Thakur community, allegedly caught hold of her and molested her. Hearing her cries for help, two women from the village rushed to the spot, prompting the men to flee. The accused also allegedly hurled casteist slurs at the survivor and threatened to kill her. The woman’s father, an ITBP constable posted in New Delhi, returned to his native village after learning about the incident and approached police on Oct 26. The survivor also submitted a written complaint, following which the FIR was registered on Monday evening. The father told TOI that theirs was the only Dalit household in the village, where most residents belonged to upper castes, and that the family had faced repeated harassment by influential villagers. Officiating station house officer Neeraj Singh Tomar said, “An FIR was registered against the accused under BNS Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 352 (intentional insult), 351(3) (criminal intimidation) and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Ambedkar Nagar News: Bodies of Dalit couple found under suspicious circumstances, suspicion of murder
Jalalpur. The bodies of a Dalit couple, Vishnu Lal and Draupadi, were found on the side of a road in Ajanpara village in the Malipur area on Monday morning under suspicious circumstances. The woman had severe injuries on her neck, back, and legs, while Vishnu had no visible injuries. Villagers who were out defecating saw the bodies and informed the family and the police. CO Jalalpur Anup Kumar Singh, a forensic team, and a dog squad investigated the scene. Police suspect the deaths were caused by a wild animal attack, while the forest department denies any animal attack. Meanwhile, family members and villagers suspect murder. Meanwhile, rumors of an illicit relationship are also rife. Vishnu Lal (45), a resident of Ajanpara village in the Malipur area, had gone to irrigate a paddy field with his wife, Draupadi (39), at around 9 pm on Sunday night. They returned after turning on the water and went back to the field at around 1 am. After this, the two did not return home all night. Around 6 a.m., a villager who went out to defecate found their bodies lying on the side of a road about 50 meters from the field. Upon receiving the information, the deceased Vishnu Lal’s father, Ramkewal, along with other family members and villagers, rushed to the scene. According to Ramkewal, Vishnu Lal’s body was free of any visible injuries. Draupadi had severe bleeding injuries on the back of her neck. Furthermore, the woman’s leg had been eaten by a wild animal. Family members and villagers suspect murder, but no complaint has been filed. Meanwhile, some people are also hushedly discussing the possibility of an illicit relationship. CO Anup Kumar Singh, Station House Officer Tanuj Pal, the forensic team, and the dog squad investigated the scene. Following the police’s suspicion of a wild animal attack, Ranger Mudit Singh, under the direction of DFO Jagdamba Prasad, conducted the investigation with his team. Jackal footprints were found some distance from the scene, samples of which have been taken and sent for testing. The couple’s death is initially suspected to have been caused by a wild animal attack. The post-mortem report is awaited, based on which further action will be taken. – Anoop Kumar Singh, CO Jalalpur Judging by the visible wounds on the bodies, it does not appear that an animal attack was the cause of death. After death, the woman’s leg was devoured by a small animal. Jackal footprints were found some distance from the scene, which appear to be a few days old. No footprints were found at the scene. Courtesy: Hindi News
Telangana doctor held for cheating Dalit woman over marriage
The woman alleged that the doctor had promised to marry her once his divorce was finalised. Hyderabad: A 39-year-old orthopaedic doctor was arrested by Chunchupalli Police in Bhadradri Kothagudem district for allegedly cheating a woman on false promise of marriage. According to local reports, the woman had approached the accused, Dr Nadikudi Shailesh Kumar, in June 2022 for treatment while he worked at a private hospital. In October of the same year, Kumar started working at Sri Krishna Multi-Specialty Hospital in Vidyanagar Colony and the woman continued her treatment there. The woman has alleged that the doctor took advantage of her dependence on him as a patient and sexually assaulted her multiple times over the course of four years. She claimed that she underwent spinal surgery at his hospital in April 2023, and the doctor forced her to have intercourse even though she was suffering from pain after the surgery. The woman has alleged that the doctor had promised to marry her after his divorce. The divorce was reportedly finalised in August, and the woman asked him to marry her. However, the man refused and allegedly used casteist remarks against her. A case was registered under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing simple hurt) and 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Shailesh Kumar was sent to judicial remand on October 15. Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Hardoi teenager held hostage and raped in Rajasthan: Lured with the promise of a job, forced to marry in a temple
A 17-year-old Dalit girl from Hardoi has alleged that she was held hostage and raped in Rajasthan after being lured with the promise of a job. The victim alleges that she somehow managed to escape from the accused’s clutches and reach home. Subsequently, she filed a complaint at the police station around 4 pm on Tuesday, demanding action against the accused. The case is registered at Baghauli police station. Police have begun an investigation. Now learn the full story… According to the victim, she has studied up to grade eight. It is alleged that on August 3, 2026, a young man from her village, a truck driver in Rajasthan, lured her with the promise of a good-paying job in Chandigarh. Instead of taking her to Chandigarh, the accused took her to Rajasthan and held her captive there. During this time, he forced her into sexual intercourse against her will. Threatened to return home When she resisted and insisted on returning home, the accused threatened to kill her. The victim also alleges that the accused staged a forced marriage at a temple. 50,000 rupees withdrawn from bank account The teenager alleged that the accused fraudulently withdrew approximately 50,000 rupees from her bank account. Later, when the accused’s family learned about her caste, they refused to accept her. Shahnawaz Khan | Hardoi Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit, Adivasi women recount ordeals in 35 atrocity cases at Hyderabad legal clinic
Victims as well as witnesses in 35 cases of atrocities against Dalit and Adivasi women and girls on Wednesday shared their experiences of seeking justice, at a legal clinic organised by Dalit Sthree Sakthi (DSS) in Hyderabad. The victims narrated their ordeals in cases involving murder, rape and cheating on the pretext of love. Senior government officials and representatives of civil society organisations attended the clinic as jury members, heard the grievances and assured the victims of support in pursuing their cases. DSS national convener Jhansi Geddam presided over the clinic and coordinated the proceedings. Director of Public Prosecutions Sambasiva Reddy commended the victims for their faith in the justice system and the Constitution. He assured them of assistance in prosecuting the cases and said special courts would be established in every district. CEO of Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty and Panchayat Raj Commissioner Divya Devarajan stressed the need for financial assistance to victims and said support would be extended through Sneha Cooperative Societies. She said SERP, in coordination with the Scheduled Castes Development Department (SCDD), would help victims secure bank loans. SCDD Commissioner Vijayendra Boyi expressed anguish over the crimes and said such incidents reflect the prevailing regressive social conditions. The government had sanctioned ₹40 crore towards compensation for victims of atrocities, with another ₹31 crore in the process of being sanctioned, she said. Assuring the victims of compensation and rehabilitation, she stressed that financial assistance alone was not enough and that justice must be secured in every case. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jharkhand: 5 accused of assaulting and using casteist slurs against a Dalit woman for drawing water from a well
In Jagannathpur, Ranchi, a case of assault and casteist slurs against a Dalit woman for preventing her from drawing water from a well has come to light. Police have registered an FIR against five accused under the SC/ST Act and have begun an investigation. Jharkhand: A serious incident has come to light in Ranchi, the capital, where a Dalit woman was prevented from drawing water from a well and assaulted. According to police information released on Tuesday, October 13th, a case has been filed against five people, including four members of the same family, in connection with the incident. The miscreants are also accused of harassing and abusing the victim with casteist slurs. The entire incident occurred on October 10th in Sector 2 of HEC Smart City, which falls under the Jagannathpur police station jurisdiction. A senior police officer confirmed that the victim, identified as Manju Chaudhary, had filed a police complaint on the same day of the incident. The case took a new turn on Monday when the accused family filed a cross-complaint with the police. In their complaint, they accused the victim, a Dalit woman, of assaulting them. Jagannathpur police station in-charge Nitin Kumar Singh, providing details of the case, stated that the police have taken concrete action based on the written complaint filed by Manju Chaudhary. Police have registered an FIR against Amrendra Kumar, his wife Remi Devi, their two sons, and another person under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the BNS Act. According to the station in-charge, the victim alleged in her complaint that these five people, who lived near her house, had been preventing her from drawing water from their well since July 23rd. Subsequently, on October 10th, they suddenly assaulted her brutally and used derogatory casteist slurs against her. Given the sensitivity of the matter, the police have launched an investigation. The investigating officer stated that preliminary police investigations have revealed that the well at the center of the dispute is located within the premises of the main accused, Amarendra’s house. The police are currently thoroughly investigating all the serious allegations of harassment and assault leveled by the woman. The officer clarified that once this investigation is complete, strict and appropriate legal action will be taken against the accused based on all the facts that have emerged. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit family attacked for protesting abusive language during thirteenth day ceremony: Woman hit with brick after entering home; case filed against accused Rinku Singh
A Dalit family was attacked in Dadera village, under the Purakalandar police station area. The victim, Ramkumar, has filed a complaint against Rinku Singh, a resident of the village. According to Ramkumar, his wife’s thirteenth day ceremony was held on October 3, 2026. The accused, Rinku Singh, abused the family. When they protested, he used obscene language. Villagers intervened and sent him home. It is alleged that at around 6 a.m. on October 6, Rinku Singh entered Ramkumar’s elder brother’s house and assaulted him. He hit Ramkumar’s sister-in-law (Manoj’s wife) on the head with a brick, seriously injuring her. Following the complaint of the family, who had been receiving threats for three days, Purakalandar police have registered a case and handed over the investigation to police officer Ashutosh Tiwari. In this regard, the Pura Qalandar police station stated that a preliminary report has been filed regarding the incident, and the investigation is ongoing. Further action will be taken as directed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police. Brijesh Chandra Pandey | Pura Bazaar (Ayodhya), Ayodhya Courtesy: Hindi News