At a legal literacy class on rights of transgender people, principal district judge S. Ananthi made an assurance to the gathering to include a third category as “others” against gender in the application forms for the forthcoming recruitment of court staff.
“We will be calling for applications for recruiting court staff soon. We will include “others” next to male and female in the forms,” she said, observing that she should have done it much earlier.
“I will also seek permission from the High Court to allot one of the available toilets in the court campus for transgender people,” she said. To a demand raised by Sudha, a transgender, to appoint a transgender as member in the Lok Adalat, Ms. Ananthi assured her to take steps and asked degree holders to approach the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) with their certificates. “We will guide you with the application process,” she said.
DLSA organised the legal literacy class to create awareness on the rights for the transgender community on Wednesday. K. Prithika Yashini, transgender sub-inspector, addressing the gathering, said it was important to create understanding among parents as the lack of it was the basis of the problem. “You should analyse yourself, stay focussed in order to achieve and never back down,” she said.
She said three more transgender persons have joined the police department in Cuddalore, Ramnad and Krishnagiri.
J. Kanchana Arivazhagan, president of Women Advocates Association, stressed on the need for transgender people to know their rights so that they could move ahead in life.
“There are several rights. Transgender people should be provided a separate toilet in public places. There should be separate wards for transgender in hospitals. If your rights are violated, you could approach the DLSA,” she said. She added that they were eligible to get all documents such as ration cards, voters’ identity card and driving license.
D. Ravi, president of Bar Association, said transgender people have voting rights and could contest in elections. P. Mathusuthanan, district judge, fast track mahila court was present.
