Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 24: High Court has sought a status report with latest information from the authorities of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with regard to the number of transgenders in their respective territories and providing of necessary assistance to any person who may claim to be a transgender.
The report has been sought by the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajnesh Oswal in a PIL taken up pursuant to certain direction issued by the Supreme Court in a case titled National Legal Services Authority vs. Union of India
The authorities of both the UT’s i.e., UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh as per the court directions have to undertake further exercise to determine the number of transgenders in the respective territories and the petitioner in this connections has to furnish the number of transgenders in both the UT’s with necessary documents if she so desires.
The Administration of both the UT’s have to issue advertisements by widely publishing in electronic as well as in print media seeking information about the transgenders which will not only help in determining the number of transgenders who are in the Union Territory, and, but wherever necessary, they can be provided assistances by the concerned District Legal Service Authorities.
The J&K State Legal Service Authority, and Ladakh State Legal Service Authority as per the court directions have to provide necessary assistance to any person who may claim to be a transgenders and their particulars are also recorded by the Administrations.
The UT of Ladakh has already submitted its response before the court enumerating various measures undertaken by the Administration to deal with the issues pertaining to transgenders, however, the UT of J&K have filed the response in which it has been mentioned that there are 550 transgenders out of which 450 are in Kashmir Division and 100 in Jammu Division.
This figure is contended by the counsel for the petitioner that thousands of transgenders have remained uncounted in both the J&K and Ladakh and as such it has been impressed by the court upon that the proper ascertainment of the total number of transgenders living in these UT’s would be necessary.
Court as such said that proper ascertainment of the number of transgenders district wise would be desirable so that the concerned authorities as well as District Legal Service Authorities could reach out to them to render the necessary assistance as contemplated in the direction of the Supreme Court.
Follow our WhatsApp channel