Petitioner Laya Mehndi: Court has granted much needed civil rights to transgenders

Petitioner Laya Mehndi on Tuesday said that the Supreme Court has clearly understood that the transgender community is vulnerable, and therefore, they have been conferred with an identity of 'third gender' with rights.

"All the petitioners involved in this petition sought for civil rights and the right to identity. With this judgement a third gender category has been created. They have been clearly recognized as vulnerable, therefore, they must get right to education, opportunity to employment whether it is in centre or state, access to healthcare," Mehndi said.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday in a landmark judgement recognised the transgenders as third gender in this country. This decision of the apex court makes India to become the first country to give transgenders the third category of sex.