The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Centre to seek expert opinion on the bar on transgender people and gay persons from donating blood, pointing out that it could lead to stigma. The National Blood Transfusion Council’s guidelines say that trans people, gay persons and sex workers, among others, are “at risk” for HIV and Hepatitis B or C infections. The bench of Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh was hearing a plea challenging the guidelines. Story continues below this ad “Aren’t we creating a kind of segregated group? By these methods, stigma, biases and prejudices are all enhanced,” Justice Singh told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who was appearing for the government. Justice Singh said: “What is worrying me… are we going to brand all transgenders as risky and thus indirectly stigmatise these communities? Unless you can show with some medical evidence there is some kind of link between transgenders and these diseases. You can’t say all transgenders are involved in these kinds of activities, even normal persons engage in such activities…” ASG Bhati …