SC Recognizes ‘Third Gender’

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on April 15, 2014 created the “third gender” status for hijras or transgenders. Earlier, they were forced to write male or female against their gender. The SC asked the Centre to treat transgender as socially and economically backward.

Highlights of the Judgment

• Transgenders would be allowed admission in educational institutions and given employment on the basis that they belonged to the third gender category.
• Absence of law recognizing hijras as third gender could not be continued as a ground to discriminate them in availing equal opportunities in education and employment.
• Trangenders were respected earlier ....