With Madras High court’s ruling on Thursday that directs Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) to appoint a transgender as Sub-Inspector of police, we take yet another leap towards gender inclusion.
Born as a boy named Pradeep Kumar, she has undergone a sex change surgery and is now known as K Prithika Yashini. But Prithika’s application was initially rejected by TNUSRB as she didn’t come under the given two categories following which she moved the High Court.
On September 7, the court ordered authorities to permit her to take part in the viva voce test to certain conditions.
The bench in its order said “There was absence of any column for third gender, though this aspect now stands enunciated by the judgement of the apex court which carves out the category of third gender for the purpose of safeguarding and enforcing properly their rights guaranteed under the constitution.”
It also said: “”The present case is one where the petitioner was categorised as man, though she was a female. She had undergone sufferance of an exit from her house without parental protection. It is in these difficult circumstances that the petitioner has been endeavouring to eke out a living.”
“We are, thus, of the view that she is entitled to be recruited to the post of sub-inspector and for declaration of her result with the hope that she would carry out the duties with dedication and commitment to advance the cause of other transgenders.”
The bench pointed out that Prithika would be the “only beneficiary” of third gender category appointment. Her appointment, the judges hoped, would certainly give strength to case of transgenders.
