Delhi High Court orders government to decide on free travel for third gender in DTC buses, recognition of identity on tickets

The Delhi High Court recently ordered the Delhi government to decide a representation demanding free travel for transgender persons in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and their recognition as the third gender on bus tickets..If the same is not decided within a month, the Managing Director of DTC would be summoned to court, Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora warned."At request of the learned counsel for the Respondents (Delhi government), by way of a last opportunity, the matter is adjourned and the Respondents are directed to comply with the orders of the Division Bench within a period of one month, failing which the Managing Director of Respondent No. 2 shall remain present in Court on the next date of hearing," the order stated..The Court passed the order while dealing with a contempt petition filed by a transgender person named Amit Juyal. A Division Bench of the High Court had in October 2022 directed the Delhi government to take a decision on the representation within four months. It had also asked the government to decide on another demand raised in the representation - to provide free tickets to third gender since they are economically and socially backward..In the contempt plea, Juyal argued that even after nearly six months since the Division Bench's order, the government is yet to take a decision on the representation. The plea stated that this inaction is causing grave prejudice to the petitioner, who suffers during bus travel. On the other hand, counsel appearing for the Delhi government said that the Chief Secretary has forwarded the representation to the State Ministry of Transport, but there is no clarity about how much time it would take for the Ministry to decide the representation. .After considering the case, Justice Arora noted that the direction issued by the Division Bench is limited to taking a decision on the representation of the petitioner, and therefore, the government's inaction and non-consideration of the same for more than six months is certainly protracted.The Court thus granted a last opportunity to the government take a decision on the same and listed the case for further consideration on August 18, 2023..Advocates Arkaneil Bhaumik and Dr Amit George appeared for the petitioner.Standing Counsel Avnish Ahlawat, Additional Standing Counsel Udit Malik and Advocates Tania Ahlawat and Vishal Chanda appeared for the respondents..[Read Order]