Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 20: High Court expressed serious displeasure over Government’s non-compliance with the Supreme Court directions for providing constitutional rights to trans-genders in the State and granted last opportunity for implementing those directions.
The Division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal while observing that the issue is of serious nature and need to be addressed as the State is under obligation to implement the Supreme Court directions and directed the issue be placed before the Chief Secretary in order to implemented these directions for providing constitutional rights to trans-genders in the State.
Court said as the Supreme Court has already laid down a judgment five years ago and till date State Government has failed to implement the directions and formulate schemes for the trans-genders in the State, except prepared a draft policy as such sought interference of Chief Secretary of the State to sort out the issues and submit the compliance report before the court.
Court said that in view of directions of the apex court, protection of health, education facilities, right to vote, driving license, equity of service benefits are need to be provided to the trans-genders in the State.
Court has also been informed that even the said community has not been provided the Aadhaar. Court in this connection made Chief Electoral Officer and department of UIADI as party respondent in the PIL and directed both to submit their response by or before next date of hearing in the matter.
The petitioners highlighted the manner in which the transgender community who as per previous census are about 4000 in number are being treated in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and court after this observed that it cannot be denied and rights of persons including the transgenders must be protected and observed, they are entitled to the same protection and medical treatment as any other individual.
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