For govt service,eunuchs can apply as ‘transgender’

The decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting attended by Chief Secretary S C Aggarwal; Home Secretary A R Talwar and Punjab’s Additional Advocate General (AAG) Rupinder S Khosla.

“The decision has been taken to pave the way for eunuchs so that they can also be considered for government jobs at par with others. After all they are

also human beings,” Khosla told The Indian Express.

Eventually,though,those selected will be considered in the category of men.

“The decision to consider them in the category of men has been taken as considering them in the category of women will not be prudent keeping in view public sensitivities.”

He added that the sex determination of a eunuch — whether male or female — was ruled out because of the cost of the test.

“It will be an expensive affair as each detection costs around Rs 2,500. Moreover,the state lacks availability of such equipment. Thus,in order to avoid undue burden on the state exchequer,the Punjab government has decided to keep them in the category of men,” Khosla added.

Appreciating the stand taken by the Punjab government,a division bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh directed the Haryana state to clear its stand keeping in view the decision taken by the Punjab government. The Centre has also been asked to clarify which category shall eunuchs be considered under: male or female.

The Central government earned the wrath of the High Court for taking an evasive stand in this regard. Justice Jasbir Singh took strong exception to the statement of the Central government’s counsel who told the court that the Centre has informed that the concerned issue falls in some ministry other than the one which was questioned by the court on the last date of hearing. “Is your Central government segregated?” Justice Singh asked.

The development took place during the resumed hearing of a PIL filed by Kajal Mangal Mukhi,a eunuch who is an advocate by profession. Mukhi had sought directions for the states to allow eunuchs to join government services.

Mukhi had taken the stand that despite being professionally and academically competent,eunuchs were not allowed in government service.