Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 7: High Court has directed the Government of J&K and Ladakh to inform it as to how many transgenders have been granted admission in schools and colleges.
The Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Gita Mittal after perusal of the status report said the authorities have not informed the court as to how many transgenders have been granted admission in schools and colleges.
“The authorities shall ensure that transgenders are admitted to schools and colleges and their fundamental Right to Education under Article 21-A of the Constitution of India is property and effectively enforced”, the DB recorded.
Authorities as per court direction submitted the steps taken by schools and colleges and Universities for admission of transgenders. The petitioner has been directed to verify the status of the working of the steps taken by the authorities and asked him to verify the position and inform the court.
Commissioner Secretary to Government, Higher Education, Union Territory of Ladakh in his report as per socio-economic caste census 2011, states that there are only six transgenders in the UT and 4 are in Leh and 2 in Kargil.
He submits that UT is keen to upgrade its data base and to expect upgrade the current census with the upcoming census of 2020-21. Government has sought time till completion of the census 2020-21 before undertaking steps in this regard. “The UT of Ladakh shall ensure that provisions are made available so that transgender get inclusive benefits in all Government schemes”, DB directed.
It is reported that School Education Department of Ladakh UT has issued directions to the Director School Education, Ladakh, for notifying all schools to include transgender as the third gender in the admission forms.
Additionally Commissioner Secretary has also directed the Registrar of the University of Ladakh and Cluster University comprising of degree colleges at Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Drass, Zanskar, Khalste to notify all higher educational institutions to include transgender as a third gender.
Court has been informed that the HU&D Department has issued an order for sanctioning the inclusion of transgenders as third gender in the Birth, Death Certificates or any other certificates to be issued by the Municipal Committees and Councils in Ladakh UT.
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