The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to decide within a month whether to recognize transgender persons as a third gender for the purpose of issuing bus tickets or to appear before the MD.
The Delhi High Court has ordered the Managing Director of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to be present before it and provide representation within one month to the transgender community as a third gender and to provide them with free travel on bus tickets. Justice Manmohan Pratap Singh Aroda was hearing a petition filed by a transgender Amit Juyal, demanding that the Delhi government and DTC start contempt proceedings against them, which was ordered by a division bench on October 19, 2022, to decide representation within four months. Considering that the directive of the division bench was limited to making a decision on the application, the court said that the officials’ inaction and failure to consider the application for more than six months “has definitely dragged on.” The court said in its order, “At the request of the counsel for the respondents, the matter is adjourned by granting a final opportunity, directing the respondents to comply with the directions of the division bench within one month, failing which the second respondent i.e. the MD of the DTC, shall remain present before the court on the next date of hearing.” The case is further scheduled for hearing on August 18, with notice issued on the petition for contempt.
The people of the TG community face excessive difficulty and discrimination every time they have to purchase a physical ticket from a conductor, as their gender is not recognized by the system and they are often denied valid tickets. Advocate Arkaneel has been presented by the petitioner.