Steps Being Taken To Make LGBTQIA+ Glossary More Simple: State Tells Madras High Court

While hearing the pleas relating to the upliftment of the LGBTQ+ community, the State Government on Friday, informed the Madras High Court that the suggested glossary was in the process of being finalized. The state informed that the present glossary was too technical as per persons from the community and attempts were being made to simplify the terms as much as possible so that the same can be used without any difficulty. It was informed that meetings being held with the the Tamil Etymological and Dictionary Project Department. These updated glossary will then be placed before the Chief Minister, for obtaining orders to publish it in the official gazette. It was also informed that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules was being finalised and would be notified within a period of four weeks. The Transgender Persons Policy was also in the process and views of various departments was being awaited. The court allowed a time limit of four weeks for the publication of the Transgender Persons Policy.Justice Anand Venkatesh was dissatisfied that no steps were taken for sensitisation of teachers even though the orders regarding the same were passed in April. "You have not even started sensitisation program. You could have used the vacation period for that. Now all the students are coming back to school. When will you have the sensitisation? The orders were passed well before vacation. We are at the end of July. You have not taken one step" the court asked.To this, the Additional Advocate General submitted that the process will commence within a week and progress made will be reported at the next hearing by way of a status report. The court reiterated that these processes should not be done for the sake of complying with the orders and that those involved should take active efforts to do something for the community."It is our duty to do something for the community. Let them (stakeholders) have a feeling that they are doing this for the community. Teacher sensitisation is very important. The only person that the students can confine to is the teacher. So they should be given at least some training." The standing counsel for National Medical Council submitted that the directions issued by the court were being followed up and suggestions of the petitioners were being followed up. They also informed that a draft note was prepared and was issued to all stakeholders. They requested further time to comply with the directions which was granted.With respect to NCERT Manual, the senior panel counsel submitted that the training for the sensitisation of the different stakeholders of school education will commence from the coming academic session.With respect to enlisting of NGOs, the counsel informed that the respondents have now understood the scope of the orders passed by the court and steps are being taken to enlist the NGOs, who are working for the welfare of the persons belonging to LGBTQ+ community. The counsel sought time to report the progress made in this regard by filing a status report. The member Secretary for the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority submitted that 53 special awareness programmes were conducted by the District Legal Services Authority across the State from April to June 2022. It was also informed that steps were being taken to organise a State wide programme for the advocates and funds were being awaited in this regard. The counsel sought time for filing a comprehensive report regarding the programs previously undertaken by the TNSLS. In view of the above submissions, the court adjourned the matter to 22.08.2022 for further hearing.Case Title: S Sushma and Anr v. Director General of Police and Ors Case No: WP 7284 of 2021Click here to read/download the judgment

Steps Being Taken To Make LGBTQIA+ Glossary More Simple: State Tells Madras High Court

Upasana Sajeev

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