Hyderabad's Central Prison has set up a separate Gender-Neutral Cell for people with diverse gender identities and expressions, following a visit by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Special Monitor, the Commission said.
The prison's Superintendent told the NHRC in a compliance report that the recommendation has been carried out. The prison has also allowed affirmative clothing for those held in the facility.
How it came about
The step followed a visit to the prison on 8 October 2026 by the NHRC's Special Monitor for matters relating to transgender persons and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. During the visit, the Special Monitor stressed implementation of the NHRC and Ministry of Home Affairs advisories on the welfare of transgender persons.
The Commission said the cell is meant to ensure dignity and appropriate living arrangements. It described the move as part of its efforts to protect the human rights and dignity of people with diverse gender identities and expressions in correctional institutions.
The release does not say how many people the cell can hold or how many are currently housed there.
Source: official release by the National Human Rights Commission, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (05 NOV 2026 11:41AM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: NHRC, India’s intervention leads to establishment of a Gender-Neutral Cell at Central Prison, Hyderabad for persons with diverse gender identities and expressions.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2332858) issued by the National Human Rights Commission on 05 NOV 2026 11:41AM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.NHRC, India’s intervention leads to establishment of a Gender-Neutral Cell at Central Prison, Hyderabad for persons with diverse gender identities and expressio — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
