Special status to the transgenders

 

On 15th April, 2014, the Supreme Court in a Writ Petition filed by National Legal Services Authority has delivered its judgement on the issues of Transgender persons, directing the Central and State Governments to examine the recommendations of the Expert Committee based on the legal declaration made in the above judgement and implement them. It has also directed that “Hijras, Eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be treated as ‘third gender’ for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of our Constitution and the laws made by the Parliament and the State Legislature”. The Court has further directed to take steps to treat them as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservation in cases of admission in educational institutions and for public appointments. 

 

The Ministry has filed an application in Supreme Court seeking certain clarifications regarding definition of ‘transgender persons’ and granting OBC status to such transgender persons who may by birth belong to SCs/STs. 

 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.