IMPHAL, April 11 � Solidarity and Action Against HIV Infection in India (SAATHI), an NGO, along with All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association, a community-based organistion (CBO) is jointly organising an interaction programme with media persons on April 15 at Manipur Press Club, Imphal pertaining to the path-breaking National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) judgement by Supreme Court of India (SCI) which had recognised various rights entitled to the transgender community.
The programme is being held with an objective to spell out and discuss about the scope and specific recommendations made by the SCI and the steps taken by Central and State Governments and also to map out a strategy to expedite the steps.
The SCI on April 15, 2014 had affirmed the constitutional rights and freedoms of transgender persons including those who are identified as third gender and those who are identified as opposite gender to their biological sex. By recognising diverse gender identities, the Court has broken the binary gender construct of �man� and �woman� that has pervaded Indian law.
Filed in September, 2012 by NALSA, the writ petition had sought several directives from the SCI, including granting of equal rights and protection to transgender persons; inclusion of a third category in recording one�s sex/gender in identity documents like the election card, passport, etc., and for admission in educational institutions, hospitals, amongst others.
