The State’s new step would allow transpersons to get driving licences citing their real gender. In a major boon to transperson community, driving licences would now include the third gender.
The State government’s move is in accordance with the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment of 2014 wherein it asked for equal rights and inclusive policies for transpersons and other sexual minorities.
Officials of the Road Transport Authority (RTA) believe that the commuting problems of transpersons would soon end as the government has decided to implement the Centre’s directions in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment for granting driving licences to them.
Till now, transpersons depended on auto-rickshaws or cabs for their travel needs. They did not use public transport as they could not sit in boh gents or ladies seats. But travelling by auto-rickshaws or cabs was expensive.
Joint Transport Commissioner C. Ramesh said the Centre made certain amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules-1989, and sent the official Gazette to the State government for implementation recently.
He said the department was designing a new online application form for driving licence that includes a third column and would be open to public from next month.
“This will enable the transpersons to apply for learner’s licence and permanent driving licence under their own identity,” he said, adding that their gender would not be specified on the licence cards unlike in others’ licences.
Mr. Ramesh said the application process for them to avail a licence would not be different from other applicants.
Bittu Karthik, an associate professor at Ashoka University, said it was a great move by the government. “I hope the government also realises that many transpersons have identified themselves as male or female and not as transpersons as they did not have a choice earlier. Now they can approve changes in gender and name on the licences,” he said.
When asked about the gender change on the already issued licences, Mr. Ramesh said as of now, there was no such option.
Incremental change
Welcoming the move, Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli, an activist for transperson rights, said it was a small step towards the development of the community. “It’s an incremental change, but not radical,” she said.
She said not all transpersons own vehicles or know how to drive one. “First, they have to learn how to drive and for that, we should get access to driving schools,” Ms. Mogli said.
