Justice Ziyad Rahman AA ordered the authorities to issue a revised certificate listing both Zahhad, a trans man, and Ziya Paval, a trans woman, as "parents" without mentioning their genders.
Published Jun 02, 2025 | 3:57 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 02, 2025 | 3:57 PM
Transgender couple from Kerala, Zahhad and Ziya Paval with their child. (paval19/Instagram)
Synopsis: Kerala High Court allowed a transgender couple’s request to use the gender-neutral term “parent” in their child’s birth certificate instead of father and mother.
In a historic judgement, the Kerala High Court allowed a transgender couple’s request to use the gender-neutral term “parent” in their child’s birth certificate instead of father and mother.
Justice Ziyad Rahman AA ordered the authorities to issue a revised certificate listing both Zahhad, a trans man, and Ziya Paval, a trans woman, as “parents” without mentioning their genders.
Zahhad — a person hailing from Thiruvananthapuram who was born a woman and now identifies as a transman — and his partner Ziya Paval is claimed to be the first transgender couple in the country to become pregnant. Zahhad delivered their child at a state-run hospital in Kozhikode.
The child was named Zabiya Zahhad at a glittering ceremony, held at an open venue in Kozhikode on 8 March, which was attended by several persons from the transgender community and well-wishers from various walks of life.
When South First contacted Ziya, she described the verdict as the result of a prolonged legal battle and expressed happiness over the outcome.
She noted that the case was represented by advocate Padmalakshmi, Kerala’s first transgender lawyer, and added that this made the victory even more meaningful.
The couple had hit headlines by approaching the hospital authorities demanding to register their new gender identity in the birth certificate and other documents of the newborn. Though Zahhad had delivered the child, the trans-man wanted his name to be registered as the father of the baby and Ziya Paval, his trans-woman partner, as its mother.
Paval had also said they have a transgender identity card issued by the Union government, and so they expected that there wouldn’t be any legal hurdle in having their request granted.
According to the Instagram post in 2023, Zahhad was undergoing hormonal therapy and had undergone breast removal surgery.
“My dream of becoming a mother, his dream of being a father and a desire of our own brought us to one thought. Today, eight months old life moves in his belly with full consent, wrote Paval on Instagram.
According to reports, Zahhad’s hormonal treatment was stopped temporarily when they decided to become parents.
Even though he had undergone several surgical procedures for gender reaffirmation, the uterus and related organs were not removed, which made the pregnancy possible.
(With inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
