India's Supreme Court seeks government's response on plea seeking quota for transgenders

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the Union government, all states and Union Territories (UTs) seeking their response to a plea seeking reservation for transgender persons across India in state employment.

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the Union government, all states and Union Territories (UTs) seeking their response to a plea seeking reservation for transgender persons across India in state employment.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud issued the notice in a plea seeking a declaration that transgender persons, in general, are entitled to reservation under the state for government jobs under Articles 14, 19 and 21, mentioned as Fundamental Rights in part-III of the Indian constitution.

The plea, filed by Subi KC, a transgender person, also sought directions from the CJI bench to frame and implement a reservation policy in favour of transgender persons in public employment.

In its plea, Subi KC cited various studies that mention the transgender community is socially, economically and educationally backward with deplorable conditions. The petitioner also argued the need to address these bottlenecks at the earliest by enacting and implementing provisions for reservations.