The State government told a bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and KK Ramakrishnan that the State authorities have identified 7,547 individuals as belonging to the third gender category and 6,553 have been issued ID cards.
It further said that five persons belonging to the third gender have been recruited to Tamil Nadu Police as well.
These details were furnished in a counter-affidavit was filed in response to a petition seeking directions to the State to implement directions by the Supreme Court in its 2014 NALSA judgement without further delay.
The affidavit said that since 2015, TN has been following a system that recognises the third gender and permits individuals to “choose without inhibition,” to identify as male, female or the third gender.
“It is submitted that Government of Tamil Nadu is the pioneer State in implementing various welfare measures for the Third Gender persons and respectfully prayed that the Hon’ble Court may please be accepted the action taken on the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and various welfare measures taken by the Government of Tamil Nnadu including the concessions by keeping them in the most advantageous community that paved a way for easy access to both education and employment, issuance of Identity Cards, monthly pension, innovative measures taken for creation of Mobile App, formation of Tailoring Society, Award for best practices to a Third Gender person as stated supra and dismiss the Writ Petition,” the affidavit said.
Source: Barandbench
