LGBT Rights in Jharkhand
State

💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

Public Opinion

Jharkhand is lacking public opinion data.

Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Jharkhand by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Have you lived in or visited Jharkhand?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Jharkhand.

Take Survey

History

Homosexual activity in Jharkhand

?

Homosexual activity in Jharkhand is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Legal under federal India law
In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as a crime.
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Jharkhand

?

Same-sex marriage in Jharkhand is unregistered cohabitation.

Current status
Since Oct 17, 2023
Unregistered cohabitation under federal India law
In the Supreme Court case of Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench held that LGBTQ+ persons have the right to choose a partner, cohabit and enjoy physical & mental intimacy, free from physical threat and coercive action. The State is bound to protect the exercise of these rights.
Sources:
Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v. Union of India (2023) 2023 INSC 920 (Supreme Court of India) [web.archive.org/web/2023101…
Report error  ·  Log
Jun 12, 2020–Oct 16, 2023
Unregistered cohabitation under federal India law
The Uttarakhand High Court acknowledged that cohabitation and "live-in relationships" are protected by law.
Report error  ·  Log
2018–Jun 11, 2020
Banned
The 2017 Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act (effective from 2018) explicitly refers to a husband and wife as parties to marriage.
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Jharkhand

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Jharkhand is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship under federal India law
In India, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQIA topics.
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6.7, Paragraph 14
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Jharkhand

?

Right to change legal gender in Jharkhand is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since Dec 5, 2019
Legal, but requires surgery under federal India law
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 allows for transgender individuals to change their gender marker to either "male" or "female" only after showing proof of their gender confirmation surgery issued by a medical officer to the District Magistrate. This provision contradicts the Supreme Court decision in 2014. This contradiction has been challenged as unconstitutional in the Indian Supreme Court. As of June 2020, a second petition alleging unconstitutionality has been entered, and will be heard along with the first. Overall, the petitions challenge Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Act, claiming that they also contradict the Constitution of India. This case is still pending a decision.

Under section 6 of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a trans person may apply to be issued a certificate of identity that certifies that they are transgender (denoted as "Transgender"). Upon receiving this certificate, the applicants have the right to be recorded as transgender in all official documents.
Report error  ·  Log

Gender-affirming care in Jharkhand

?

Gender-affirming care in Jharkhand is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Jharkhand

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Jharkhand is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Jharkhand

?

LGBT discrimination in Jharkhand is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT employment discrimination in Jharkhand

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Jharkhand is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT housing discrimination in Jharkhand

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Jharkhand is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Jharkhand

?

Same-sex adoption in Jharkhand is single only.

Current status
Single only under federal India law
Same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt a child in India but single LGBTQ parents are.
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Jharkhand

?

Intersex infant surgery in Jharkhand is not banned.

Current status
Since Apr 22, 2019
Not banned
Jharkhand has yet to ban intersex infant surgery however throughout India pressure to ban these surgeries has been mounting in recent years.
Until Apr 22, 2019
Not banned under federal India law
Before Tamil Nadu's ban, no Indian states had passed bans on intersex infant surgery.

Serving openly in military in Jharkhand

?

Serving openly in military in Jharkhand is illegal.

Current status
Illegal under federal India law
Although homosexuality and gender transition are legal in India, LGBT personnel are not permitted in the military.
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Jharkhand

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Jharkhand is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Jharkhand

?

Conversion therapy in Jharkhand is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal in Jharkhand.
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Jharkhand

?

Equal age of consent in Jharkhand is equal.

Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Equal under federal India law
The age of consent has been equal since decriminalization. In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as criminal.
Sources:
Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) 2018 INSC 790 (Supreme Court of India) [web.archive.org/web/2020070…
Report error  ·  Log