6,553 transgender persons issued ID cards, 5 recruited to Tamil Nadu Police: State to Madras High Court

The Tamil Nadu government (TN) recently told the Madras High Court that the State has been a “pioneer” in implementing welfare measures for the transgender community and for those who identify themselves as belonging to the third gender category, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s landmark judgement in National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) vs. Union of India..The State government told a bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and KK Ramakrishnan that the State authorities have identified 7,547 individuals as belonging to the third gender category and 6,553 have been issued ID cards.It further said that five persons belonging to the third gender have been recruited to Tamil Nadu Police as well.These details were furnished in a counter-affidavit was filed in response to a petition seeking directions to the State to implement directions by the Supreme Court in its 2014 NALSA judgement without further delay.The affidavit said that since 2015, TN has been following a system that recognises the third gender and permits individuals to “choose without inhibition,” to identify as male, female or the third gender.“It is submitted that Government of Tamil Nadu is the pioneer State in implementing various welfare measures for the Third Gender persons and respectfully prayed that the Hon'ble Court may please be accepted the action taken on the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and various welfare measures taken by the Government of Tamil Nnadu including the concessions by keeping them in the most advantageous community that paved a way for easy access to both education and employment, issuance of Identity Cards, monthly pension, innovative measures taken for creation of Mobile App, formation of Tailoring Society, Award for best practices to a Third Gender person as stated supra and dismiss the Writ Petition,” the affidavit said. .In the counter affidavit submitted before the Madurai bench of the High Court, the TN government said that those who identify as belonging to the third gender category are registered with the “Third Gender Welfare Board and are given identity cards.” The District Level Committee headed by the district collector and other members are required to identify them and then issue ID cards and other benefits. Persons identifying as third gender are also provided with documents such as birth certificates, education certificates, community certificates, ration cards and voter IDs, it was submitted..Persons belonging to third gender without community certificate are identified as backward class and most backward class and all third gender persons are eligible for communal reservation in government jobs and education, the State said.“It is also submitted that based on the determination of community by the Third Gender and identification of Third Gender or Third Gender (male) or Third Gender (Female) as per their option, they can claim all the benefits applicable under the respective category both is Employment and Education,” the State’s affidavit said..The Court recorded the State's submissions and disposed of the case. .Advocate S Baskar Mathuram appeared for the petitioner.Senior Central Government Standing Counsel R Nandakumar and Government Pleader P Thilakkumar appeared for the respondent State government..[Read Order]