“Govt Should Be Sympathetic To Transgenders”: Madras High Court Observes In A Plea Seeking Extension Of CoVID Cash Relief To Transgenders Who Do Not Possess Ration Cards

The Madras High Court bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy while hearing a plea seeking issuing of corrigendum to the G.O.(Ms) 37 (“GO”) dated 7.5.2021 issued by the Department of Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection to extend Covid-19 cash relief Rs.4000/- to transgender persons in Tamil Nadu who do not possess Ration Cards has given time to the State to take steps with regards to upliftment of the status of Transgenders. 

“We'll record the submissions & we'll hear the matter on Monday to see what steps have been taken in this regards. The Govt should be sympathetic to the transgenders. AG has submitted that the state would consider the issue & the state should come to their aid.”, the Court said. 

Senior Advocate Jayana Kothari appearing for trans activist Grace Banu submitted that there was a Transgender Welfare Board in the State which was issuing identity cards but the same stopped has functioning since two years before the advent of the pandemic. 

The Court while taking note of Senior Advocate Kothari’s submissions directed the Advocate General of the State to act in this regards. 

“Please do something in this regards.This is a really deprived class.”, the Court said.

Earlier the Court had issued notice to the State in the plea which was filed through Senior Advocate Jayana Kothari & Advocate C Prabhu also sought for directing the State to pay the first installment of Rs 2000 of cash relief scheduled to be paid for the month of May 2021 as per the GO to transgender persons who do not have ration cards, either on the basis of their transgender identity cards or any other government ID.

Further the plea also sought for conducting an awareness programmes for Transgender Persons in the State of Tamil Nadu regarding Covid-19 Vaccination, especially to clarify and assure them on the safety of vaccines for those who are undergoing hormone therapy and other treatment and to conduct special vaccination drives for transgender persons in Tamil Nadu by assisting them to register online and get special vaccination slots in local community health centres.

The matter will be heard on June 7 now. 

Case Title:  Grace Banu Vs.The Chief Secretary And 4 Others.| WP 12035/2021