Madras high court orders separate toilets for transgenders

The order was passed on a public interest litigation filed by, Devaraj, an activist seeking provision of separate toilets and bathrooms for transgenders in the state.

The Madras high court on Tuesday passed an order asking civic authorities to build separate toilets for the third gender. In a first, the high court has ordered for toilets to be built for transgenders within the Chennai city corporation limits. A bench comprising Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice M Sundar had appointed R Devaprasad, an advocate, as amicus curiae, to assist the court in the issue.

The order was passed on a public interest litigation filed by, Devaraj, an activist seeking provision of separate toilets and bathrooms for transgenders in the state.

According to the petitioner, the 2011 census showed that there were around 10 lakh transgenders in Tamil Nadu but basic amenities were denied to them. "The society often ridiculed and abused them and they were sidelined and treated as untouchables. Apart from other challenges faced by them in education and employment, the important one was toilets exclusively for them," the petition said.

Devaraj had sent representations in this regard to the government authorities on September 12 and November 16, 2016, but there was no response, after which he filed a PIL in the Madras high court.

OneIndia News