Protection of Transgenders
An Expert Committee was constituted in the Ministry to make an in-depth study of the problems being faced by the Transgender Community and suggest suitable measures to ameliorate their problems. The Committee submitted its report on 27th January, 2014. The recommendations of the Expert Committee have been forwarded to all the State Governments/UT Administrations for taking appropriate action. Responses from sixteen States/UTs have so far been received in the Ministry. On 15th April, 2014, the Honble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 400/2012 filed by National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) has delivered its judgment on the issues of Transgender Persons, directing the Central and State Governments to take various steps for the welfare of the transgender community and also to examine the recommendations of the Expert Committee based on the legal declaration made in the above said judgment and implement them within a time frame of six months i.e. up to 14.10.2014. However, the Ministry, in September, 2014 has filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking certain clarifications in the Judgement dated 15.04.2014 which inter-alia includes seeking extension of time limit for implementation of Expert Committee report. The matter is still sub-judice.
This information was given by the Minister of State, Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha here today.
