JUSTICE ANAND VENKATESH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ISSUES A LIST OF GUIDELINES TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF LGBTQA FROM POLICE HARASSMENT

To understand a writ petition filed by two lesbians seeking protection from police harassment at the consent of their parents. Justice Anand Venkatesh voluntarily attended psycho-educational sessions and an interactive session with the members of the LGBTQI. Justice publically displayed his acceptance of the remarkable judgment passed by him on pre-conceived notions about same-sex relationships and has explained to educate himself and understand the inherent prejudices and biases against them.

After gaining insight with the bulk amount of knowledge from the members of LGBTQI communities, the Judge expressed his thought by saying. 

"This session ultimately convinced me that I must change all my preconceived notions and start looking at persons belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community as they are. I must frankly confess that the Petitioners, Ms Vidya Dinakaran and Dr Trinetra became my gurus who helped me in this process of evolution and pulled me out of darkness(ignorance)".

The guidelines made by the Justice regarding the safeguard and protection of LGBTQI+ persons are as follows,

1. If the police receive a complaint about the missing of LGBTQI members of a consensual relationship, the police should close the complaint without harassment.
2. The community members may approach the enlisted NGOs for safeguarding and protecting their rights. They should be addressed depending on the case and shall be counselled with legal support.
3. The guidelines also follow for the accommodation. The accommodation charges are made in existing short stay homes: Aganwadi shelters and a shelter house for a transgender person to allow stay for every member of LGBTQI.
4. Government to issue sensitization programs to create awareness about the communities.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal