Madras High Court Directs State Govt To Vaccinate All Transgender Persons Within 3 Months

The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that all transgender persons in the State are vaccinated within a period of 3 months. The Court was adjudicating upon a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by transgender rights activist Grace Banu Ganeshan seeking the extension of cash benefits as well as conducting special vaccination drives for transgender persons in the State.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D Audikesavalu observed,

"It will be open to the State to provide special windows to transgenders or other classes of persons at any place or places so that such vulnerable sections receive their vaccinations as expeditiously as possible."

The Court noted that the State government as per its directions had provided the first instalment of cash relief to the tune of Rs 2000 to every transgender person. Further, the State government had also waived the requirement of registration cards to be produced and extended the aid to eligible transgender persons on the basis of any form of identification card.

"There is no grievance as to the distribution of the first tranche of Rs.2,000/- by way of cash relief", the Court opined.

The Advocate General also apprised the Court that in regards to the second instalment of cash relief, the same procedure would be followed and that all eligible transgenders seeking the aid will be duly granted the second instalment of Rs.2,000 without the requirement of any separate formalities.

Opining on the petitioner's plea for the adoption of special measures by the State to prioritise vaccination for transgenders, the Court observed,

"While it may not be ideal to create groups and sub-groups and require the State to deal with every group or sub-group as a special class, it may also be noted that there can be no reasonable apprehension on the part of the transgenders in this State that they would be discriminated against when it came to vaccination"

Accordingly, the petition was disposed of with the direction that the State government must release the second instalment of cash relief as seamlessly as possible and that steps must be taken to vaccinate transgender persons within a period of 3 months from the date of passing of this order.

Case Title: Grace Banu v. Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu

Click Here To Read/Download Order