n this article, Yash Dahiya of Amity Law School, Noida analyses the landmark

judgment, NALSA vs. Union of India.[(2014) 5 SCC 438]

PARTIES

1) National Legal Services Authority (Primary petitioner)

2) Poojaya Mata Nasib Kaur Ji Women Welfare Society

3) Laxmi Narayan Tripathy

Vs.

4) Union of India (Defendant)

Coram

1) Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan

2) Justice A.K. Sikri

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
For long the transgender community or the TG community in which the term
transgender is an umbrella term has been sidelined by the community and have
been tormented and discriminated. [1]They continuously face abuse and
violence just because they don’t come under the universally recognised genders
i.e. male and females. They are tortured and do not enjoy the same freedom
and rights which the citizens enjoy. They are shunned and defamed by the
society and are considered as untouchables. They are considered as a liability
and pain for the nation.

Finally a petition was filed by the National Legal Services Authority which was
the primary petitioner which provides free legal aid to the disadvantaged and
unprivileged sections of the society and resorts to solve their grievances. The
organisation works for the betterment of the society and thus the petition was
filed so that Transgender can be recognised as a third gender in the eyes of the
law other than the binary genders i.e. male and female. Poojaya Mata Nasib
Kaur Ji Women Welfare Society who filed a writ petition and Laxmi Narayan
Tripathy who is renowned Hirja activist also filed a petition.

The petitions were filed on the grounds that non recognition of the transgender
community as a separate sexual and gender identity is a violation of many
Fundamental and Human Rights, which are protected by the Indian Constitution
and other International Human Rights documents.[2] Fundamental rights such
as article 14(Right to equality), article 21(Right to life and liberty) etc.
Transgenders have the right to enjoy the same rights and freedoms which the
binary genders male and female enjoy.

FACTS OF THE CASE

However, the transgender community face a lot of humiliation and disgrace in
the present times. They are not allowed medical, educational facilities etc. They
are exploited and harassed by people. All these are violations of the
fundamental rights of our country and several International Human rights
documents which are given above. This eventually led to the filling of the
petition. By virtue of the same, laws governing marriage, adoption, inheritance,
succession, taxation and welfare were all governed by whether or not you are
male or female. Interestingly, this determination of gender is always done at
birth. It is due to this lack of legal provisions for persons of the third gender
that they faced discrimination across various walks of life. Thus the case came
before the court when a public Interest Litigation was filed by the National Legal
Services Authority followed by other petitioners as well.[11]

ARGUMENTS AND REASONING

The petitioners were joined by a number of interveners. They argued that only
binary genders of male and female were recognised under Indian law and the
lack of legal measures to cater for the needs of the represented groups
contradicted a number of constitutional rights including the rights to a dignified
life, equality before the law, non-discrimination and freedom of
expression. [12]They are disrespected and exploited by people.

According to article 14 (right to equality) of the Indian constitution no person

shall be discriminated on the basis of sex, religion etc. The State shall not deny
to any person equality before the law within the territory of India.[13] It is not
restricted to male and female.

According to article 15 of the Indian constitution

The State shall not on the ground of race, sex, religion etc. be discriminated
Also no person should be on the grounds of religion, race, sex etc. be restricted
to use wells, shops, public restaurants etc. They should also not be restricted to
use wells, roads etc. It should not prevent the State from making any special
provision for children and women.[14]

Article 19 of the Indian constitution which guarantees citizens freedom of

speech, form associations or unions, to meet peacefully without any arms etc. is
also being violated over here and is perhaps one of the most important right
which is being violated.[15] Many times we can see that transgender’s don’t get
to dress the way they like as it’s against the culture of our country. This right
includes the right to expression of one’s self-identified gender. This expression
may be done through dress, words, action or behaviour or any other
manner.[16]

And finally article 21 of our Indian constitution which is the most extensive right
guarantees citizens the right to personal life and liberty i.e. no person shall be
deprived of his life and personal liberty except by law. Transgender’s have every
right to live their life in a dignified and a respectful way. It also includes right to
live with human dignity. Expression of oneself with respect to a gender which is
self-recognized is an important part of Article 21.[17]

Article 16 is also being violated which says that there should be equal
opportunities to all citizens. No person shall, on grounds only of religion, race,
caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence etc. be discriminated.
Transgender’s are not given equal job opportunities.

There are many international laws as well which are being violated

 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

 Article 6 (right to life).
 Article 7 (prohibition of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment).
 Article 16 (recognition before the law),
 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
 Article 6 (right to life)
 Yogyakarta Principles, Principles 1 (universal enjoyment of human rights), 2
(rights to equality and non-discrimination), 3 (right to recognition before the law),
6 (right to privacy), 4 (right to life), 9 (right to treatment with humanity while in
detention), 6 (right to privacy), 18 (protection from medical abuses)
 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW) Articles 11 (discrimination in employment) and 24 (commitment of
State parties)
  Convention for Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
(European Convention of Human Rights), Article 8 (right to respect for private and
family life) and 14 (non-discrimination)

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties Articles 31, 32 (Interpretation of

International Conventions) [18]

So due to all these reasons transgender’s live a tough life. If their gender is
recognised things would be much easier for them. It would be easier for them
to fill forms and they won’t have any difficulty in choosing between sexes as
they would have a separate gender in the form. They won’t have to under any
operation to recognize themselves under a particular sex. They would get to
enjoy all the rights which male and female citizens get to enjoy.

The defendants on the other hand defended by saying that the state
government have set up an “Expert Committee on Issues Relating to
Transgender” and said that the petitioner’s views would be sought as part of the
process. Various states and union territories have also argued that they have
taken significant steps to improve the conditions and status of the transgender
community.[19]
 Click here

JUDGMENT
It was divisional bench. The judgment was given by Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan
and Justice A.K Sikri. However, Justice A.K Sikri gave a separate opinion with
some additional comments.[20] The judgment relied on many courts of foreign
countries such as courts of Malaysia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia and
English courts as well. Firstly the court put emphasis on the psychological sex
rather than the biological sex. The Court talks about the Corbett v.
Corbett[21] with its complete emphasis on biological sex. It also talks
about Attorney-General v. Otahuhu Family Court which talks about New
Zealand’s standard requiring surgical and medical procedures to effect a
transformation in. The court says no to gender recognition based on biological
way and gives full importance to recognition by psychological tests.

Before getting into the constitutional harms it is imperative to mention that Para
53 of the judgement: “Any international convention not inconsistent with the
fundamental rights and in harmony with its spirit must be read into those
provisions”.[22] It is also said that all those principles discussed on TGs and
international conventions including Yogyakarta principles, which are consistent
with the fundamental rights of the Constitution of India must be recognised and
followed.[23] Transgender people are suppressed and are faced with
discrimination in various aspects of life including health, employment etc. The
court referred to Part 21 of the United Nations Convention against Torture and
Other Cruel Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, wherein it is
stated that States are obliged to protect all persons regardless of their sexual
orientation or transgender identity. The court acknowledged the fact that there
is absence of legislations in the country and it was therefore necessary to follow
International Conventions.[24]

The court held that transgenders falls within the purview of the Indian
constitution and therefore should enjoy all the rights of the constitution. These
rights include article 14 which guarantees right to equality. Article 14 is a right
enjoyed by “any person” (similarly, it applies equally to men, women and
transgender people. Hence, transgender people are entitled to equal legal
protection of the law. They have equal right in employment, health care,
education and civil rights. Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation
and gender identity represents inequality before the law and unequal protection
of the law and violates Article 14.

Article 15 requires the improvement of socially and educationally disadvantaged

groups. The Court says that transgender have not been able to enjoy the
provisions as under Article 15(4) for the advancement of the socially and
educationally backward. They constitute such a group and the state is bound to
take some proper action to remedy the injustice done to them for centuries.
The Court stated that a person’s right to show or express gender identity
through words, dress, action or behaviour is included in the Article 19 (right to
freedom of expression). Privacy, self-identity, autonomy and personal integrity
are fundamental rights protected by Article 19.

The court also held that the Transgender community have the right to article
21. They have the right to live a dignified life and enjoy personal liberty.

The Court declared that the Centre and State governments must grant
recognition of gender identity as male, female or third gender in the eyes of the
law. It was observed that transgenders require full recognition in the eyes of the
law. They should get to enjoy health care, education etc.

By this judgement all government documents such as ration card, passports

etc. would recognize third gender.[25] The court also held that he transgender’s
are citizens of India and are fully entitled to get the benefit of all schemes and
programmes launched by the Government irrespective of their population. Now
the Election Commission of India has also taken special measures to
enrol.[26] In his judgment in the NALSA case Justice Radhakrishnan admits this
fact in these words: “Seldom, our society realizes or cares to realize the
trauma, agony and pain which the members of Transgender community
undergo, nor appreciates the innate feelings of the members of the Transgender
community, especially of those whose mind and body disown their biological
sex. Our society often ridicules and abuses the Transgender community and in
public places like railway stations, bus stands, schools, workplaces, malls,
theatres, hospitals, they are side-lined and treated as untouchables, forgetting
the fact that the moral failure lies in the society’s unwillingness to contain or
embrace different gender identities and expressions, a mindset which we have
to change”[27] . From Justice Radhakrishnan’s opening lines talking about the
moral failure of society’s unwillingness to contain or embrace different gender
identities and expressions, down to Justice Sikri’s cognizance of the painful
process of transitioning from one gender to another, this is a text that is shot
through with empathy.[28]
The court also took the decision that Hijras, Eunuchs are to be treated as “third
gender”. it made various declarations and directions to the Centre and State
Governments such as to operate separate HIV Zero-Surveillance Centres,
Provision for separate public toilets and appropriate medical care in hospitals for
transgender’s, frame various social welfare awareness schemes for the
improvement of conditions of the TG community, to make the public aware
about the atrocities against the TG community and to regain the respect and
trust the TG community once enjoyed. [29]

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Well, we cannot ignore the fact that the TG community for long have suffered
and gone through torture, humiliation and pain. They kept quiet and suffered
but finally through this judgement the condition of the transgender community
has improved. This judgement has made an impact not only in India but
throughout the world. The exclusion of the TG community from participation in
the society is a major human rights issue. India follows democracy and
democracy includes everyone irrespective of their deformation, condition etc.
Everyone should be treated equally and should get equal protection of law if we
go by the 3 conditions of Rule of Law which includes equality.

However, there are flaws in the judgment as well. Transgender is an umbrella

term for people whose gender identity is different from the gender given to
them at birth, and in the case of India, there are variety of identities, such as
kothi, transman etc. is not clearly outlined in the judgment.[30] A
comprehensive list of replies by commentators and collectives has been posted
by Orinam. In one of them, Gee Imaan Semmalar offers an analysis of the text
of the judgment, and its possible implications. He terms the judgment
“confusing,” and it combines a number of transgender identities, for example
referring to all hijras as ‘third gender’. [31] Dutta points out that at one aspect
it tries to promote self-identification but in another way it is trying to promote
more psychological tests.
The Yogyakarta Principles was not accepted in its true spirit and letter.[32] The
issue of sexual intercourse too wasn’t looked deep into. [33]The need for
separate detention facilities were not taken into consideration. [34]It also
doesn’t check on the atrocities by the Transgender community by the police
who do not listen and solve the grievances of the TG community[35]. Thus the
judgment does not look into the long term and extensive solution to the
problems faced by the transgender community.[36]

Well in the end 15th April 2014 is a crucial day for the transgender community.
It’s a very important step and plays a very important role in protecting human
rights.[37]

CONCLUSION AND AUTHORS PERSONAL VIEW

It is great that now that there is a verdict which makes transgender a spate
gender then the binary gender, however, all is not over now. The transgender
community still has a long way to go. Battles are not won just like that a lot of
scarifies and effort needs to be put in. According to Guari Sawant who refuses
to be addressed as a man or a female Speaking at Hijra Habba (Transgender
Amalgamation) event organised by India HIV/AIDS Alliance said that “If people
want to recognise us, then they should recognise us as transgenders.” It has
been years since the historic verdict, but Sawant said that “it seemed changing
people’s mindsets would take longer”.

“If people have started accepting me as a mother, they will also accept us at
workplaces and give us more opportunities,” she hoped.

Sawant had adopted a girl, Gayatri, who was about to be sold off in the red-
light area of Sonagachi in Kolkata.

“I adopted a daughter to show that even we can become mothers. I did it for
my justice, for my rights so that people can recognise us,” she said.
Not bothered by being stereotyped and judged, Gauri is proud of the identity
given by nature.

“Law has identified us as transgenders. It is about who I am. I’m not an

alien,” she said.

While the fight for the transgenders’ rights continues, she said she tried to find
joy in the little things in life.

So, in the end, it depends on what we make out of it and we should remember
that our preamble starts with “We the people of India”.

Understanding the term, Transgender

The concept of Hijras and other transgender’s is not a new concept. They were
recognised in Ancient India as well. Lord Rama, when in exile with Sita and
Lakshman from the kingdom for 14 years, turns around his followers and asks
all men and women to leave them alone and return back to the city. Among the
followers Hijras were also there who did not feel that they should follow this
order. Lord Rama was very impressed by this and gave them power to bless on
auspicious occasions like childbirth and marriage.[3] Transgender’s which
include Hijras, Kothis, Aravanis have a very strong presence in Hindu mythology
and other religious texts.[4]

 Hijra community has also been mentioned in the Kama Sutra, a text on human
sexual behaviour written sometime between 400 BCE and 200 CE which is a
Hindu text[5] They have been called as ‘tritiyapakriti’ or third gender has been an
important part of Vedic and Puranic literatures, it . The term ‘napunsaka’ has
been used to show the absence of procreative capability of a person.[6]
 There are many forms of Shiva one of which is when he merges himself with his
wife Parvathi to become Ardhanari a very important figure in the Hijra
community.[7]
 In Mahabharata Aravan son of Arjun and Nagakanya offers himself to be
sacrificed to Goddess Kali so that the Pandavs can win the war. But it was in one
condition that Aravan has to spend his last day of his life in matrimony.
 Unfortunately, Aravan could not find any woman who would agree to marry him
as no woman wanted to marry a man who is going to die in the next day after
marriage. Lord Krishna distressed by seeing this converts himself in the form of a
woman called Mohini and marries him. The Hirjas of Tamil Nadu consider Aravan
their ancestor and call themselves Aravanis. [8]
 Hijras also held important positions in courts and posts in administration during
the Mughal era in India from the 16th to the 19th century. They had religious
authority and gave blessings in religious ceremonies. [9]
 A detailed analysis of the historical background of Hijras in Mughal era is there in
the book of Gayatri Reddy, “With Respect to Sex: Negotiating Hijra Identity in
South India” – Yoda Press (2006).
 The onset of colonial rule changed everything from the 18th century onwards.
Early European travellers showed that they showed disgust by the sight of Hijras
and could not understand why they were given so much respect in the royal
courts and other institutions. In the second half of the 19th century, the British
colonial administration tirelessly tried to criminalize the Hijra community and to
deny them the civil rights. Hijras were considered to be separate caste or tribe in
different parts of India by the colonial administration. The pre partition stage
changed the conditions of the transgender community[10].