Supreme Court Asks Centre's Response On Plea About Discrimination Of Transgender People

The Supreme Court asks the Centre to reply to a plea regarding the discrimination of transgender people.

The plea regarding discrimination of transgender people seeks directions to establish a welfare board for transgender people. It also seeks to appoint a committee that promptly probes reports of abuse by the police.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde agreed to hear the plea which had been filed by a Mumbai-based organisation. The organisation stated that transgender people should be treated with the same dignity and respect as others. It claimed that transgender people have faced discrimination for ages and added that they were deprived of social and cultural participation.

The bench headed by Bobde and comprising of Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian stated “We are issuing notice”.

The hearing was conducted via video conference, during which advocate CR Jaya Sukin, who appeared for the petitioner, said that the discrimination of transgender people was a sensitive matter. Sukin added that a welfare board for trans people was required to address their social welfare issues.

The plea stated that “Transgender people are deprived of social and cultural participation and hence they have restricted access to education, health care and public places which further deprives them of the constitutional guarantee of equality before law and equal protection of law.”

Speaking about the discrimination faced by transgender people, the plea stated “transgender people often face serious discrimination and mistreatment at work, school, and in their families and communities.” The plea added transgender people also received fewer opportunities compared to others. It alleged that the living conditions of transgender people are very poor and that a majority of transgender people live in rented accommodations.

The bench observed that “The issue is sensitive but there is a law”. Meanwhile, the plea stated even though Parliament passed the bill to protect transgender rights, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 is “inadequate on several fronts”.