In a first for Maharashtra, Kolhapur’s Shivaji University has asked all its 235 affiliated colleges to allow admissions to eunuchs and transgendered persons.
In a first for Maharashtra, Kolhapur’s Shivaji University has asked all its 235 affiliated colleges to allow admissions to eunuchs and transgendered persons. The university issued the directive on October 16 in connection with a case being heard by the state Human Rights Commission. But such individuals will still have to choose between male and female on the admission form.
Commission chairperson Kshitij Vyas and member Subhash Lalla issued notices to the state’s higher and technical education department on August 24, asking it to file its reply to the petition. After this, the department asked all universities in the state to forward their opinions on the issue. Shivaji University took cognisance of the department’s letter dated September 15 and directed all its 235 colleges not to deny admission.
Shivaji University vice-chancellor AA Dange told
DNA that a transgendered individual would still have to choose the sex as male or female on the admission form. “We have not asked colleges to change the forms; the existing provision mentioning the sex as male or female will not be changed. There is no need for a third category as of now,” Dange said.
The petition was filed by Mumbai-based Nirav Marjadi, Dharmapal Dave, Jay Vakil, and Kushal Mehta, all students of the Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal’s College of Law, before the Human Rights Commission on July 1, complaining that eunuchs and transgendered persons are often discriminated against in Maharashtra.
Unlike in states like Tamil Nadu, where eunuchs are issued ration cards and allowed to state their sex as “other”, Maharashtra has no such provision.
Dave said there should be a provision in admission forms for a transgendered person or a eunuch to mention the sex as ‘other’. “Why force us to mention the sex as male or female? It is against the dignity of the eunuch or transgendered person,” he said.
The complainants alleged that transgendered persons are deprived of many rights as Indian law recognises only two sexes. Respondents include the food and civil supplies department, primary education department, secondary and higher secondary education department, labour department, and general administration department.
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