Karnataka HC Directs State To Extend Relief To Transgenders [Read Order]

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the state government to extend relief under the 'Mythri scheme' for transgenders immediately on receiving applications from all eligible members of the community. .

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice B V Nagarathna gave the direction after it was infomed that "1657 persons of transgender community are getting monthly pension of Rs.600 under Mythri Scheme and on considering the current situation, two months' pension is being paid to them in advance."

To which bench said "If transgenders who are covered by Mythri Scheme make an application for grant of the benefits under the Mythri Scheme, the State Government or the concerned Authorities will have to dispose of those applications immediately considering the prevailing situation and extend the benefits under the Mythri Scheme to all the eligible members of the transgender community."

A plea was filed by Centre for Law & Policy Research on behalf of Ondede & Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Centre for Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy, NLSIU. Several reliefs were sought for by the trans community such as free of cost rations, food and nutrition and provisions including vegetables and fruit to members of the transgender community from ration shops and also from other outlets, free LPG cylinders, waiver of electrivity bill for 6 months, Rs. 5000 per month for six months to transgender persons as well as free access to medicines.

The bench also took note of a report published in Deccan Herald on April 8, about the plight of Devadasi women in a village near Koppal Town, due to the lockdown. The court said "We are not deliberately referring to the name of the village in which the Devadasis who are under distress were found to be residing. We are only recording that after the visit of the Member Secretary, district legal services authority, ration has been made available to them and a local Merchants' Association even supplied utensils to the Devadasis in the particular colony."

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[Read Order]