Provide Assistance To Transgenders In Preparing ID, Ration & Aadhar Cards: MP High Court Directs MP State Legal Service Authority

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the M.P. State Legal Service Authority to provide assistance to transgender across the State to help them in getting their Identity Cards/Transgender Cards, 'Ration' Cards, and 'Aadhar' Cards prepared.

The Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla was hearing a PIL Petitioner by a Transgender espousing the cause for the welfare of the people of the Transgender Community.

Submissions of the Petitioner 

It was told to the Court that most of the transgenders do not have a transgender card, especially those who are newly added to the list, and due to the non-availability of the transgender card, they are not in a position to get their 'Aadhar' Card and 'Ration' Card prepared.

It was also submitted that as against the promise of providing 5 kg food grains every month, currently only 4 kg food grains is being given to the transgender, out of which also 2 kg Bajra is provided.

Court's observations and directions

Having heard the submissions of the petitioner and state's counsel, the Court observed thus:

"...most of the transgenders face difficulty not only because they do not have a transgender identity card, but even the 'Ration' Cards are also not issued in their names. It has also been demonstrated that owing to non-availability of 'Ration' Card, the transgenders community are not in a position to get their 'Aadhar' Card issued."

Against this backdrop, the Court directed the MP State legal service authority to provide assistance to all such transgenders across the State by getting a survey conducted through Paralegal Volunteers and help them in getting their Identity Cards prepared.

The Court has directed the Secretary of the District Legal Service Authority, in each district, to monitor this exercise. The Court also issued the following directions:-

• The Collectors of the respective districts to provide them all necessary support for facilitating the work of survey as well as the issuance of Identity Card/Transgender Card, 'Ration' Card and 'Aadhar' Card.
• State Government to place on record the relevant material showing the benefits which are being provided to the transgender community in the State under any other scheme of the Central Government/State Government.
• The Collectors of each district in the State to ensure distribution of the food grains and other benefits admissible to the transgenders in the State under the schemes of the Central Government/State Government as well as under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

Case title - Noori v. State Of Madhya Pradesh and others

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