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| J&K, Ladakh HC directs UT administrations to determine number of transgenders | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 23: In a landmark decision, a Division Bench of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, comprising Chief Justice N Kotishwar Singh and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, has directed both Union Territories (UTs) of J&K and Ladakh to undertake a comprehensive exercise to determine the number of transgender individuals within their respective territories.
The directive came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated following the Supreme Court's directions in the case of National Legal Services Authority vs. Union of India and others.
The High Court instructed the administrations of both UTs to issue advertisements through electronic and print media, soliciting information about transgender individuals. This exercise aims not only to ascertain the number of transgenders in the territories but also to offer assistance where needed through the concerned District Legal Service Authorities. Furthermore, the J&K State Legal Service Authority and Ladakh State Legal Service Authority have been directed to extend necessary assistance to any person claiming to be a transgender, ensuring their particulars are duly recorded by the administrations.
The court's decision follows submissions from both UT administrations regarding the measures taken to address issues concerning transgenders. However, discrepancies were noted in the reported numbers of transgenders. While Ladakh reported a total of 6 transgenders, J&K reported 550 transgenders, figures contested by the petitioner's counsel as potentially inaccurate and undercounted.
The Division Bench emphasized the importance of accurately ascertaining the number of transgenders, including district-wise enumeration, to enable relevant authorities and District Legal Service Authorities to provide necessary assistance in line with the Supreme Court's directives.
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