National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India & Ors.
Full Case Name:- National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India & Ors.
Decided on:- 15 April 2014
Citation:- AIR 2014 SC 1863
Judges Involved:- K.S. Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri
Issues Raised:-
- Whether persons who fall outside the male/female gender binary can be legally recognized as “third gender” persons.
- Whether disregarding non-binary gender identities is a breach of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
Introduction:-
In the history of India, the Transgenders community had an important status. The Hindu mythology, Vedic and Puranic Literature recognized them as the Third Gender and give them great respect. They played a very important role in the royal courts and also have a great power to give blessings. There has been a long-standing tradition of Kinnars coming to Weddings or a Child’s birth to give blessings. They are given a large amount of money and a lot of ceremonial gifts because their stature is considered similar to God itself and thus, their blessings are believed to be quite pure and effective.
But in modern society, people are doing untouchability and gender inequality with transgender persons. The right to equality and equal treatment of persons is a right guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution of India. And Article 15 provides that No person shall be discriminated against based on sex/gender. Transgender’s do fall within equal protection of a person. The same way Article 21 of the Constitution also protects the rights of the Transgenders. The people have directly violated the Human Rights of third-gender persons. For prohibiting this inequality, an NGO and a transgender person filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court of India.
Also Read: Maneka Gandhi V. Union of India – Analysis
Facts of National Legal Services Authority case:-
National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free legal aid services to the weaker sections of the society.[1] A statutory body (NALSA) filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court of India. A non-governmental organization was joined with the petition which is representing the Kinnar transgender community, and an individual who identified himself as a Hijra.
The term Hijra means intersex people or transgender people. In India people also refer to them as Kinnar. The Hijras are officially recognized as the third gender by the government of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hijras have a recorded history in the Indian subcontinent from antiquity onwards as suggested by the Kama Sutra period.
The Indian lawyer and author Rajesh Talwar have written a book highlighting the human rights abuses suffered by the community titled ‘The third sex and human rights.’ Few employment opportunities are available for the hijras.
The petition sought a legal declaration of the gender identity than one assigned at the time of birth and that non-recognition of their gender identity violates articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. The community urged that their inability to express themselves as a binary gender denies them the equal protection of laws and social welfare schemes. They also prayed for legal protection as a backward community and the right to able to express their self-identified gender in government forms.
Judgment;-
The historical background of the transgender community was discussed and the Supreme Court recognized that gender identity and sexual orientation include transgenders and that each person self-defined sexual orientation and gender identity is integral to their personality. The right to equality is the basic right of all human beings. [2]
The Supreme Court directed the center and state government to take steps to treat them as socially and economically backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservations for admission to educational institutions and public appointments. Operate separate HIV Siro Surveillance Centers since transgenders face several sexual health issues. Address the problems being faced by transgenders such as fear, shame, depression, suicidal tendencies, social pressure, etc. To take steps for making various social welfare schemes for their betterment. To take steps to create public awareness so that TGs will feel that they are also part of the social life and not to be treated as untouchables.
Also, Read M.C. Mehta v. Union of India and Ors.
Critical Analysis of National Legal Services Authority:-
The Supreme Court was passed a Landmark Judgement on 15 April 2014, on the matter of protection of the fundamental rights of the Transgenders community. This judgment plays an important role in the life of the third gender persons who did not have a better identification of themselves. The judgment also protects the basic human rights of third-gender persons. Before this judgment, they did not have the identification of themselves as well as they were treated as untouchably, they did not have human rights like the right to marry, right to vote, right to claim formal identity through a passport or ration card, right to own property, etc.
The petition of this case has raised the issue that whether persons who fall outside the male/female gender binary can be legally recognized as “third gender” persons. It was recognized by the Supreme Court that that gender identity and sexual orientation include transgenders and that each person’s self-defined sexual orientation and gender identity are integral to their personality. The right to equality is the basic right of all human beings.
This petition has also raised another issue that whether disregarding non-binary gender identities is a breach of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India. The Supreme Court discussed the historical background of the transgender community and said that this is the basic human right of every individual and ‘individual’ includes every person irrespective of caste, gender, religion, and sex.
The Supreme Court directed the State Government to take such steps for the welfare of the transgender community in all ways such as:
- To treat them as socially and economically backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservations for admission to educational institutions and public appointments.
- Operate separate HIV Siro Surveillance Centers since transgenders face several sexual health issues.
- Address the problems being faced by transgenders such as fear, shame, depression, suicidal tendencies, social pressure, etc.
- To take steps for making various social welfare schemes for their betterment.
- To take steps to create public awareness so that TGs will feel that they are also part of the social life and not to be treated as untouchables.
Conclusion:-
This was taken a great step by the Supreme Court for the better life not only of the transgender community but also of the community that differs from the general notions of the society. This judgment is also an important milestone in furthering the cause against section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The judgment is creating public awareness with regards to the rights of the transgender community and making them feel like a part of society.
Tulsi Arya
(Writer, The Legal State)
[1] National Legal Services Authority
[2] “supreme court recognizes transgenders as ‘third gender‘“. Times of India. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.