Madras High Court Issues Notice In A Plea Seeking Extension Of CoVID 19 Cash Relief Of Rs 4,000 To Transgender Person Who Do Not Possess Ration Cards

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee & Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy has issued notice in 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. 

The plea filed preferred by trans activist Grace Banu & filed through Senior Advocate Jayana Kothari & Advocate C Prabhu also seeks 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.

The Court while issuing notice returnable a week hence in its order noted that, “The petitioner's concern is that the transgenders, who do not have ration cards, have not got any Government aid and makes a prayer for all transgenders in the State who require assistance to be extended the Rs.4,000/- relief, without insisting on their holding ration cards. The State Government will consider the matter and respond on the returnable date.”

Further the plea also seeks 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.

With respect to the similar GO notice has been issued in another plea which seeks for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to implement the Covid-19 relief Schemes, including monetary relief under G.O.Ms.No.37, Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department dated 07.05.2021 and distribution of groceries on Thiru. Kalaignar Karunanidhi's birthday, through direct / bank transfer and door-door transfer to the beneficiaries to the extent possible and without any kind of involvement or participation of the DMK Party, its Party men or any of its alliance partners and further forbear the DMK Party, its party men or alliance partners from printing any advertising material in relation to the same.

The matter related to extending the benefits of GO to transgender is listed for further hearing on May 27, 2021, whereas the plea restraining the DMK Party with respect to CoVID relief scheme is listed for further hearing on May 24, 2021.

Case Title: Grace Banu Vs.The Chief Secretary And 4 Others.| WP 12035/2021 & Devaraj Vs.The State Of Tamil Nadu And 6 Others.| WP 12042/2021