People belonging to the transgender community (hizra/kinnar/eunuch) are a marginalised lot: they face difficulties in getting identity cards, passport, employment, in taking part in political and social activities, using public toilets, right to marry, right to live in a family environment and right to adopt children. They are often subjected to public ridicule and cannot lead a normal life or engage in economic activities for a regular income. They are, therefore, forced to be engaged in prostitution and other unlawful activities for a livelihood. Taking into account their plight, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has decided to come to their help. A national-level seminar for judges, social workers, police officers was conducted here by NALSA in 2011. This was followed by regional seminars organised by the State Legal Services Authorities of Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Yet the problems of the transgenders remain unresolved.
Under Section 4(d) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA is bound to take necessary steps by way of social justice litigation on matters of special concern to weaker sections. At a meeting of the Central Authority of NALSA, held in Patna on Saturday under the chairmanship of Justice Altamas Kabir, Supreme Court judge and NALSA Executive Chairman, it was decided that the problems faced by the transgender/hizra community be brought before the Supreme Court by way of social justice litigation. Senior advocate L. Nageshwara Rao and advocate Indra Sawhney, members of NALSA, have been entrusted with filing the case. Member-Secretary U. Sarathchandran and other NALSA members, including the Union Law Secretary, attended the meeting.
