Harish Iyer, LGBTQ activist who has been interacting on the LGBTQ issues with the police training academy in Kolhapur and also globally
Following the case of Beed police constable Lalita Salve, the police department in the state continues to remain clueless about service guidelines and rules for such cases. According to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer (LGBTQ) community activists, the case of Salve will be a landmark case in India for future references.
Harish Iyer, LGBTQ activist who has been interacting on the LGBTQ issues globally, said, “I have once interacted with a male police officer in New York who transformed himself to female but he was not given any special treatment after the surgery. The job profile too remained the same. While in the case of Boston police inspector, he was interacting with local groups on decrease in crime against LGBTQ. However, globally the scenario is different than in India.”
Iyer, added, “While the Kolhapur police training academy has a module on sexuality, it is good to know that people are valuing it.
There is a need to value the science behind such transformation. There are no guidelines because people are not really aware about the issues. The case will create a revolution.”
Speaking about the rights in the Indian law, Advocate Sayed Ejaz Abbas, who is fighting Salve’s case, asserted, “It is a person’s fundamental and private right to undergo sex reassignment surgery if he/she needs it. The police department does not have any rules or guidelines on the change of gender for getting employment. While right for medical leave is also one of the basic rights, there are no specifications regarding sex change surgery.”
Tinesh Chopade, Assistant Program Manager of the Humsafar Trust, said, “Police is right on their part as per the protocol since it is difficult to accept the case. While I was doing few sessions with the Nashik Police Training Academy, I experienced that they are not denying the fact and are ready to accept it.”
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