Notice to Assam government on PIL to establish Transgender Welfare Board in the state

The Gauhati High Court sought the response of the Assam Government regarding its failure to establish a Transgender Welfare Board and a Transgender Cell in Assam. The bench of the HC was hearing public interest litigation (PIL) moved by the All Assam Transgender Association. 

The Association contended that as per the law, a Welfare Board and a Cell should be established by the government of Assam. However, the same has not been done.

The petitioner submitted that during the winter session of the Parliament, MP Chandra Prakash Joshi raised a question on the number of shelters being run in the country for transgender people. To which A Narayanaswamy  (Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment)said that twelve pilot shelter homes for transgender persons had been initiated—located in the States of Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Odisha. Moreover, in 2021, the Top Court recently issued a PIL notice seeking direction to the Centre government and state governments to establish a 'Transgender Welfare Board.'

The plea further sought direction to appoint a standing committee composing SHOs and human rights and social activists to scrutinize the reports of gross abuses against transgender.

After hearing the PIL, the Bench of Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Soumitra Saikia granted three weeks to file a reply to the Government of Assam. 

Author: Papiha Ghoshal