Call transgender for woman's job interview, Madras High Court rules

Madurai: Transgenders applying for jobs as noon meal organisers can be treated as women for the purpose of recruitment. This was the crux of the judgment delivered by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Thursday extending the same principle it has used to clear the way for the appointment of a transwoman as police sub-inspector in Tamil Nadu.

Justice Puspha Sathyanarayana also observed that providing employment opportunities to the transgenders would take forward the cause of their community.

The District Collector, Dindigul had failed to issue an interview call letter for the post of noon-meal organiser to a transwoman Monal, 25, because she applied as a 'woman' in the gender category. Outraged by the rejection of her application, Monal from Dindigul moved the court seeking to direct the authorities to
consider her application for the appointment.

"Earlier this court had given a direction to consider the case of the transgender for the post of the sub-inspector. Perhaps the said direction has emboldened the petitioner to approach the court seeking appropriate direction," said the judge.

"The court is of the view that the petitioner is entitled to appear for the interview and also for recruitment as noon-meal organiser because the same enthusiasm shown by Monal could be carried out in her duties with dedication and commitment to the cause of the empowerment of the transgender.

Justice Sathyanarayana observed that transgenders have a right to be identified by gender, which has been upheld by the state and the central government. 

Disposing of the writ petition, the court has directed to issue the interview call on or before February 5 to enable her to appear for the interview on Feb. 8.