Bombay HC asked the Maharashtra government about its position on MSETC

Bench: Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice SG Chapalgaunkar

On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government's Social Justice department to clarify its position on a transgender reservation at Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd. (MSETCL).

The division bench was informed today that the State-owned company filed an affidavit stating that there are no constitutional or statutory provisions or government decisions requiring transgenders to have jobs reserved for them. 

The Court sought to know specifically what the stand of the State was on the issue and said that a senior official of the State has to file an affidavit setting out the stance.

A further hearing was scheduled for January 9, 2023. 

The court was hearing a petition filed by Vinayak Kashid, a graduate of Electrical Engineering and postgraduate of Technology (Electrical Power System Engineering) seeking a modification to the mass recruitment advertisement published by MahaTransco in May.

MahaTransco advertised for 170 Assistant Engineers (Transmission) posts. However, the advertisement did not mention reservations for transgender people. Over the course of phone calls and emails, Kashid contacted the relevant authorities regarding the exclusion of the transgender community. Nonetheless, Kashid approached the High Court when he did not receive any response. 

In a reply, MSETCL argued that it does not have the authority to provide reservations for transgender people in the absence of any statutory provision or government decision.