India’s medical regulatory institution, the National Medical Commission (NMC) Friday declared conversion therapy “professional misconduct” and empowered the State Medical Councils to initiate disciplinary action against medical professionals if they attempt to perform conversion therapy. 

Conversion therapy, a pseudoscientific therapy concept intended to change a LGBTQIA+ person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, is considered torture by rule of law and human rights organizations. While same-sex relationships are protected in India, conversion therapy is practiced through the nation. Anjana Hareesh, a 21-year-old student, reportedly completed suicide in 2020 after her family forced her to undertake conversion therapy for months after coming out as bisexual.

On June 6, 2021, the Madras High Court prohibited the practice of conversion therapy and issued guidelines observing that “queerphobia is being affirmed in the curriculum of the country’s medical courses, leading to prejudice against LGBTQIA+ community.” In July 2022, the Madras High Court issued a series of directives intended to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and asked the NMC to label conversion therapy as professional misconduct. In adherence to the Madras High Court directions, NMC identified conversion therapy as professional misconduct under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct Etiquettes and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.