Indian Navy sacks sailor for undergoing sex change surgery

Indian Navy has, for the first time, sacked a sailor for undergoing a sex change operation while on leave last year.

In a statement issued Monday, the Indian Navy said that action was taken against Manish Giri -- a naval sailor posted at a facility in the southern port city of Visakhapatnam -- after he was found guilty of breaching service rules.

"The Indian Navy has discharged Manish Giri, a naval sailor, evoking the clause of Service No Longer Required under the Navy regulations," the statement said.

"The individual 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," it added.

Under the law, Giri can approach the Armed Forces Tribunal and subsequently India's Supreme Court against his dismissal from the Navy.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)