Maharashtra tribunal reserves sub-inspector’s post for transgenders

MUMBAI: Saying it is difficult to accept the state’s stand of still being in the process of framing a policy for transgenders’ rights, Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) directed it to reserve one post of police sub-inspector for a transgender person in this year’s selection process.
MAT chairperson Mridula Bhatkar, in its November 7 order, said reservation for one post would also be for all subsequent promotional posts, as one transgender applicant had sought orders from the tribunal saying the state had made no reservations despite a Supreme Court ruling directing states to frame such a policy. The exam for the post was held on October 8.
The SC had directed the Centre and the states in 2014 to take steps to treat transgenders as “socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservations” for admissions to educational and public appointments. The SC had in the case of National Legal Services Authority versus Union of India in 2014 upheld rights of transgender persons to decide their self-identified gender and directed the Centre and the states to grant legal recognition of their gender identities as male, female or as a third gender.
Kranti L C, lawyer for V Kashid, a transgender person aspiring for the post of PSI, said the applicant appeared for the preliminary examination held on October 8 and results are to be declared soon.
In August, MAT had passed an order saying it expected the state to come out with a clear policy for transgenders in public posts, especially in the police department as aspiring candidate has to undergo physical tests.