International Conference on Beyond the Binary Horizon: Advancing Jurisprudential Inclusivity of Transgender Persons in Indian Society

An International Conference titled “Beyond the Binary Horizon: Advancing Jurisprudential Inclusivity of Transgender Persons in Indian Society” was successfully conducted on 13 February 2026 at Saveetha School of Law, bringing together nearly 200 participants, including academicians, researchers, practitioners, students, and community representatives. The conference critically examined the evolving legal, social, and institutional frameworks affecting transgender persons in India, addressing the persistent gap between constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and liberty and the lived realities of marginalisation in employment, healthcare, education, identity recognition, and social participation. With a focus on advancing a rights-based jurisprudence beyond binary understandings of gender, deliberations engaged constitutional principles, judicial developments, legislative frameworks such as the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and comparative international human rights standards, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue across law, social sciences, psychology, healthcare, media, and lived experience. The conference was convened under the guidance of the Principal, Prof. Dr. Asha Sundaram, and presided over by Dr. S.K. Kamalakhannan and Dr. B. Lavaraju, and was organised by the department of Labour law by R. Arun Kumar, Research Scholar & Assistant Professor. The event was honoured by the presence of distinguished speakers including Dr. T. Sonia, a noted transgender activist and social justice advocate, whose inspiring address emphasised dignity, equality, and community empowerment; Dr. Koneru Anuradha, an accomplished academic and legal scholar, who highlighted the role of constitutional morality and inclusive legal reform; and Dr. Kamini Shanmugaiah, Senior Lecturer at University of Wollongong Malaysia, who addressed the gathering in online mode and offered valuable international perspectives on jurisprudence and human rights. Through scholarly paper presentations and meaningful discussions, the conference contributed to research advancement, policy dialogue, and collaborative networks aimed at promoting inclusive legal reform and social sensitisation, reaffirming the commitment to recognise transgender persons as rights-bearing citizens and agents of change beyond the binary horizon.