Gauhati High Court Issues Notice To Assam Govt Over Its Failure To Establish Transgender Welfare Board, Cell In State

The Gauhati High Court has called for the reply of the Assam Government over its failure to establish a Transgender Welfare Board and a Transgender Cell in the State.

Essentially, the Bench of Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Soumitra Saikia was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed by the All Assam Transgender Association.

The Association alleged that a Transgender Welfare Board and a Transgender Cell are liable to be established in the State of Assam, however, the same has not been done.

Issuing the notice, the Court sought the reply of the Assam Government on 18th February, 2022.

It may be noted that in April 2021, the Supreme Court had Issued Notice in PIL Seeking Establishment Of Transgender Welfare Board and Appoint Standing Committee To Investigate Gross Abuse Against Trans Persons By Police

The Court had sought responses from the Centre and states on a plea of Kinner Maa Eksamajik Sanstha Trust seeking directions to establish a transgender welfare board to address their social welfare issues.

In November 2021, the Gauhati High Court had sought the State's response on its measures taken for the health and welfare of the transgender community.

The Court was adjudicating upon a plea moved by transgender activist Swati Bidhan Baruah, raising several issues faced by members of the said community in accessing health and medical facilities.

The PIL had been filed in the year 2018, demanding the inclusion of the transgender community as beneficiaries under the Centre's Ayushmaan Bharat Scheme, which allows low-income families to subsidize avail health insurance.

Case title - ALL ASSAM TRANSGENDER ASSOCIATION v. THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 7 ORS

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