General Knowledge-Current Affairs-Supreme Court recognises transgenders as third gender

Supreme Court recognises transgenders as third gender; Directs Centre and States to provide them adequate health-care, education and employment.

The Supreme Court today (15.04.2014)  granted recognition to transgenders as third category of sex. The Centre and States were also directed to take steps for bringing the community into the mainstream by providing them adequate healthcare, education and employment. A Bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and A K Sikri directed the governments to treat the transgenders as socially and economically backward and work to raise awareness in them through social welfare schemes. The apex court has also asked  to grant them all facilities including a voters ID, passport and driving licence.

The National Legal Services Authority had petitioned the supreme court in 2012, seeking equal rights for this group of people. Supreme Court lawyer Sanjeev Bhatnagar later told media about the impact of the Judgement.

The Supreme Court has taken a very serious view about the transgender community.  Now they have been recognised as a third gender in the country and they will be getting the category of backward class and will be entitled to the reservation facilities in employment, in education, in public place, everything will be given to them at par with the citizen.