KARNATAKA GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO RESERVE 1% VACANCIES FOR TRANSGENDER CANDIDATES IN ANY STATE GOVERNMENT POST OR SERVICES

The Karnataka Government proposed to reserve 1% vacancies for the transgender candidates in all category, in any state government post or services. The reserved 1% will be available in each category of general merit, ST, SC and OBC.

The State Government submitted a copy of the draft notification, which was issued on May 13, 2021, to amend Rule 9 of the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 to approve reservation for transgender people before the division bench of Karnataka HC comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindara Government. The Government submitted the copy in response to a PIL filed by Sangama, a society working for the welfare and well being of the transgender community, and Nisha Gulur. The petition sought reservation services for the community u/s 2(k) of the Transgender protection Act, 2019.

The draft states that every appointing authority shall provide a separate column "others" along with female and male in the application for recruitment to any category or post. The State Government said that the appointing authority should not discriminate against a transgender person. The government further said that a sufficient number of transgender is not available to fill the 1%. Therefore the unfilled vacancies shall be filed by females or males of the same categories.

Lastly, the Karnataka Government said that no objection had been received by the State for the draft, notified on 15th May 2021 and therefore will issue the final notification.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal