New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday took a landmark step toward strengthening the rights of transgender persons in India by constituting a high-level committee and issuing interim guidelines to ensure their protection and inclusion.
A bench led by Justice J. B. Pardiwala announced the formation of the committee, which will be headed by former Delhi High Court judge Justice Asha Menon. The panel will focus on key issues such as equal opportunities, inclusive healthcare, and protection for gender-diverse and non-conforming individuals.
The committee’s members include transgender rights activists Grace Banu and Akai Padmashali, Gaurav Mandal from the Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR) Bengaluru, and Dr. Sanjay Sharma from the Association for Transgender Health in India.
The apex court also appointed Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari as amicus curiae to assist in the matter.
In its ruling, the court directed that all institutions lacking specific policies for transgender persons must comply with the guidelines issued by the bench until the Union government frames a comprehensive national policy.
“This will go a long way in protecting the rights of transgender persons. We are hopeful that the future of the third gender is secure with this judgment,” Justice Pardiwala said while delivering the verdict.
The judgment arose from a petition filed by a transgender woman challenging her wrongful termination from employment. The court expressed serious concern over the conduct of two private schools involved in the case and emphasized the need for systemic reform to prevent such discrimination.
Legal experts and activists hailed the decision as a milestone in India’s evolving jurisprudence on gender identity and equality.
