HC asks govt to explore workability of welfare schemes for J&K trangenders
Srinagar, Oct 23: The High Court today directed the government to examine the workability of schemes in vogue in the country for the welfare of transgenders in the state.
“Let the Commissioner, Social Welfare Department (SWD), go through the schemes which are in vogue in different parts of the country for the benefit of transgenders and examine the workability of the said schemes for the benefit of the transgender community in the State of Jammu & Kashmir,” directed a division bench of the court.
The bench hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by the transgender community in the region, also directed that the policy as framed by the State government for protection and providing constitutional rights to transgenders in the state be positively placed before the court within four weeks.
Earlier the additional advocate general of the state acknowledged before the court that the government of Jammu & Kashmir has no scheme for the benefit of the transgenders.
Petitioner trangenders have approached the court for protection of their constitutional rights in the state and prayed that the State government be directed to implement the judgment of Apex court passed in a petition titled National Legal Services Authority Vs Union of India, in this connection in letter and spirit.
They petitioned that the State government is duty-bound to fulfill their necessities and till date it has failed to provide any concrete relief to them.
They further sought directions to the government for determining the exact number of transgenders in the state besides a guaranteed quality life in terms of political, social and economic standards so that no transgender is subjected to any form of discrimination, injustice or violence.
“The government should acknowledge the transgenders of Jammu and Kashmir as a marginalized and vulnerable section and therefore introduce reservations in educational institutions and government jobs for them,” their PIL read.
Rashid Paul is Associate Editor at Kashmir Images.
He can be reached at [email protected]
