For decades, contraception in India has been treated as a woman’s responsibility.

She bears the side effects. She navigates the risks. She undergoes invasive procedures. And when permanent contraception is considered, she is often the one pushed toward surgery. While a simpler, safer alternative for men remains out of reach.

A vasectomy is a simple, safe, 15-minute procedure performed under local anesthesia. It requires no hospital stay, minimal recovery time and has no impact on masculinity, sexual function or quality of life.

Yet access to voluntary vasectomy in India is restricted by outdated and discriminatory rules.

A man is often required to be married.
He may be denied if he has no children.
He may be asked for spousal consent.
Doctors frequently turn away unmarried or childfree men.

A competent adult, fully capable of making an informed decision is denied control over his own body.

This system creates a deep injustice.

It denies bodily autonomy.
It forces women to bear disproportionate physical and emotional burdens.
It reinforces the idea that contraception is a woman’s duty.
It prevents men from taking responsibility even when they are willing.

A man ready to act is turned away.
A woman continues to carry the burden.

This is not healthcare. This is inequality.

India’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law, protection from discrimination and the right to life, privacy and bodily autonomy. The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that reproductive choice belongs to the individual including the right not to have children.

Denying voluntary sterilization based on marital status or parenthood is arbitrary, discriminatory and unconstitutional.

On International Childfree Day, we recognize that choosing not to have children is a valid, thoughtful, and deeply personal life decision. It is a choice rooted in self-awareness, responsibility, and respect for oneself, for one’s partner and for the future.

At Kahu Advocacy Foundation, we believe this systemic denial of choice is an insult to human dignity and a direct violation of our Constitution.  
Our Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that Article 21 guarantees bodily autonomy, decisional privacy, and reproductive choice. In landmark rulings such as Suchita Srivastava, Puttaswamy, and X v. Principal Secretary, the judiciary established that the right to make intimate decisions belongs to the individual alone, free from state surveillance or moralistic gatekeeping. Crucially, the fundamental right to reproductive choice includes both the right to procreate and the equal right not to procreate.  
Excluding childfree or unmarried adults from voluntary sterilization is an arbitrary classification that violates Article 14. It places an unequal, discriminatory burden on women, violating Article 15.  
To right these historical wrongs, Kahu Advocacy Foundation is preparing to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court of India.  

We are asking for a simple, necessary change.

Remove all marriage and parenthood requirements for voluntary sterilization.
Recognize the right of every competent adult to access vasectomy based on informed consent alone.
End the practice of requiring spousal consent.
Ensure equal access to safe, voluntary contraception for men and women.
Align public health policy with constitutional rights and gender equality.

This is not just about law. It is about responsibility, dignity and partnership.

Real partnership is not built on words. It is built on shared responsibility.

When one partner carries the burden alone, it is not equality. When the other is prevented from stepping in, it is not choice.

Allowing men to choose vasectomy is not radical. It is responsible. It is fair. It is long overdue.

Sign this petition to stand for bodily autonomy, equal partnership and the right to choose.