Madras High Court Seeks State's Response On Plea Seeking Reservation, Age Relaxation For Transgender Persons In Sub-Inspector Recruitment

The petitioners, Grace Banu Ganesan and Rizwan Bharathi, both working for the rights of trans persons, have challenged the notification issued by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board calling for applications for the recruitment of Sub-Inspectors of Police [Taluk, Armed Reserves & Special Police (Men, Women & Transgenders)].

It has been stated that the notification, for filling up 615 vacancies, gives liberty to the transgender candidate to decide their own gender as male or female. It was submitted that a transgender candidate who chooses the gender male is to participate in the Certificate Verification, Physical Measurement Test, Endurance Test, Physical Efficiency Test, and viva-voce along with male candidates, and those who chose Female gender have to dp it with female candidates.

It was also submitted that a transgender candidate is eligible for 30% reservation applicable to woman candidates. A transgender candidate can also get the benefits of reservation by producing their community certificate and those candidates who do not produce their community certificate are to be treated as MBC/DNC category, the plea adds.

The petitioners also submitted that neither any age relaxation nor any relaxation in physical measurements test, endurance tests and physical efficiency test is being given to transgender applicants. The same is in violation of the guidelines issued by the Apex Court and the High Court, it is contended.

Stressing that transgender persons continue to remain underrepresented in the public sector and not providing requisite reservation and relaxation for them reinforces the systematic barriers that hinder their full and complete integration and participation in society, the petitioners have sought reservation for transgender persons.

Case Title: Grace Banu Ganesan and another v State of Tamil Nadu and another

Case No: WP 21631 of 2023