The National Legal Services Authority is working out a special law for adoption on the lines of Special Marriages Act to safeguard the interests and welfare of transgenders, Supreme Court judge, Justice Altamas Kabir said today.
Transgenders are in a most disadvantageous position, not of their own making. Some of them are not only rejected merely by society but even by their own, he said, inaugurating a one-day regional seminar on Transgenders and the Law organised by the Karnataka High Court Legal Services Committee.
Justice Kabir, who is executive chairman of National Legal Services Authority, said there must be column provided for
transgenders in application forms for admission to schools and colleges and even that for jobs.
Earlier, Acting Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, Justice Vikramajit Sen said social stigma attached to transgenders must be eradicated.
Justice Manjula Chellur of the High Court, also Executive Chairperson, Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, said
transgender population in the country has crossed 1.2 million.
Justice NK Patil, Chairman of Karnataka State Legal Services Committee, said transgenders should also be brought
under ambit of Article 15 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee discrimination against sex and right to equality.
Over 250 transgenders from 11 districts including Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Ramnagar, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumkur and Mysore took part in the seminar.
