Chennai: A transgender has approached the Madras high court to direct the state government to frame and implement a reservation policy for transgender and intersex persons in public employment which provides for horizontal reservations for transgender and intersex persons.
A division bench comprising Justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad, before whom the PIL, filed by Grace Banu Ganesan came up for hearing, directed additional government pleader E. Manoharan to take notice on behalf of the state government and get suitable instructions on the prayer sought for by the petitioner.
The bench posted to March 21, further hearing of the PIL, which also sought a direction to the state government to provide horizontal reservations for transgender and intersex persons in schools and higher educational institutions including medical, technical and professional educational institutions.
The petitioner also sought a direction that the Tamil Nadu State Transgender Welfare Board be empowered to issue identity cards to transgender and intersex persons to avail reservations in education and public employment, in accordance with the principle of self-identification of gender identity and which should not require medical re-assignment, mental health assessment, hormone or any other treatment as a pre-condition and without any biological examination.
The petitioner also sought a direction that the Tamil Nadu State Transgender Welfare Board ensure that it has adequate representation from the transgender and intersex community and has adequate powers to implement welfare schemes and benefits for transgender and intersex persons.
