Transgender activists ask Govt to halt Transgender Rules, 2020

WEB DESK

More than 150 transgender activists from across India  have urged the government particularly the Union Social Justice Ministry to halt the Transgender Rules, 2020 until constitutionality of Transgender Act is decided by Apex Court & Pre-Legislative Consultative Policy, 2014 is followed.

They questioned the hurried process amidst lockdown. “The Act itself is violative of SC Judgement in NALSA vs UoI, 2014” they said in a letter to the Minister.

Signatories are from Manipur, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala etc. Activists allege, mere 12 days time for ‘feedback’, when trans community is struggling for basic survival due to lockdown impact is grossly insensitive.

To, 30^th April, 2020

The Hon’ble Minister,

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,

Government of India,

New Delhi

Sub: Response on the ‘Announcement’ by the MoSJE seeking public feedback for the

Draft Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020 – Reg

Sir,

We, the undersigned members of the transgender community are writing to you with a great deal of urgency and concern regarding the recent announcement put out by your Ministry, seeking “comments / suggestions / feedback” on the Draft Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020[1], prepared as per sub-section (1) and (2) of Section 22 the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The deadline for submission of feedback has been decided as 30^th April, 2020.

As you are aware, the process for enactment of the said legislation began with the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (2014) 5 SCC 438, (15^th April, 2014) and went through many stages, including a Private Member Bill, Report of the Standing Committee, many versions proposed by the MoSJE, eventually leading to the Act being passed and receiving Presidential assent on 10^th January, 2020.

As members of the transgender community from across the country we have been very active through all these stages and have constantly been communicating to your Ministry our serious reservations regarding the non-consultative manner in which the Act was passed as well as many of the deeply problematic provisions in the Act, which fundamentally go against the grain of NALSA as well as our constitutional rights as equal citizens.

Now that the Ministry has decided to “seek feedback” on the Draft Rules, we wish to place the following points on record.

1. You are very much aware that the constitutional vires of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 is impugned before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in multiple petitions. Since the matter is sub judice, it would be in the fitness of things to await the verdict of the Court, before proceeding with any rule-making process.

• We are also pained and shocked to note the timing and manner of ‘seeking feedback’, when the entire country has been under mandatory lockdown since a month and millions of working class people including the entire transgender community has been facing a severe crisis of survival, food insecurity, lack of access to health care and livelihood.  (and no supportive package has been declared for the entire community).

• You would also kindly appreciate that the said announcement for feedback is inconsistent with the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy (PLCP), 2014 of the Govt. of India, which must invariably be followed by all Ministries and Departments in formulating principal and sub-ordinate legislation (rule-making).  According to the said policy, all details pertaining to the proposed Bill / Rules must be placed in public domain for a period of at least 30 days and communicated to public at large through print, electronic, audio and visual means. The Policy also envisages a process for consultation with the specific communities / groups affected by such laws / rules.  

However, in the present instance, the Rules were uploaded on the website of MoSJE only on the 18^th April and feedback is expected by 30^th April (within 12 days), that too at a time when the nation is in lockdown, no physical interaction between members of the community is possible for deliberations or consultations and trans gender people are struggling for basic survival. Besides, the Rules have been placed only on the website and in English, while a majority of the community neither has access to web-based portals or the English language. An Act which claims to be ‘inclusive’ cannot adopt a rule-making process so exclusionary.

Considering the aforesaid submissions, we earnestly urge your Ministry not to proceed with the rule-making process of the Act until:

1. The matters pending before the Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of the Act are fully decided and provisions of NALSA are complied with.

• The lockdown is fully lifted and the situation of transgender people returns to at least a degree of ‘pre-lockdown normalcy’.

• The provisions of the PLCP Policy are complied with in true letter and spirit, including grant of adequate time and consultation with the community, after lockdown.

We also wish to convey that even if certain responses to the Draft Rules are received from individuals / groups, the same should not be treated as representative of the entire transgender community across the country. The window for response to the draft Rules must be kept open for adequate time after lockdown is lifted, when the community is in a position to consult and submit feedback.

We earnestly hope that the Ministry would undertake a broad-based and inclusive process of consultation before proceeding with any aspect of framing Rules that would affect lakhs of transgender persons across the country.

Yours truly,

1. Grace Banu, Trans Rights Now Collective, Tamil Nadu
2. Santa Khurai, All Manipur Nupi Maanbi Association (AMANA), Manipur
3. Rachana Mudraboyina, Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti, THITS
4. Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), Hyderabad
5. Lipok Ao, Goodwill Welfare Trust, Nagaland
6. Neel Ebong, Saphho for Equality, Kolkata, West Bengal
7. Jitu Singh, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
8. Soundarya, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
9. Gritik, Rohtak, Haryana
10. Daina Dias, Wajood, Goa
11. Raina Roy, Samabhbona and Amra Odbhut Café, Kolkata, West Bengal.
12. Vihaan, Transman, Activist, Kerala
13. Bittu Karthik Kondaiah, Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti, THITS
14. Sagar Ingale, Happy Transman Group, Nashik, Maharashtra
15. Shyam Kamala Balasubramanian, Transmasculine Person, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
16. Anindya Hajra, Transfeminine person, Pratyay, Gender Trust Kolkata, West Bengal
17. Dona Marwien, Symphalliange, Meghalaya
18. Biraja, Student, Odisha
19. Arindam Saha Kundu (Priyanka), Gour Banglar Sanghati, Malda, West Bengal.
20. Maya R, Ashakiran Samajika Seva Samajhte, Yadgir, Karnataka
21. Divya, Sangama, Samara & Karnataka Mangalamukhi Foundation, Yeshwantpur
22. Moumita Patra, Barackpore, Kolkata
23. Raahi, Bangalore, Karnataka.
24. Rahul, Kolkata,
25. Samantha, Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti, THITS, Hyderabad.
26. Abhay Thakkar, Delhi
27. Mishuk Manna, Howrah, The Happy Transman Group
28. Bindu, Ashodhaya, Mysore, Karnataka
29. Ankitha G Gowda, Sangama, Kodagu, Karnataka.                      
30. Sudheer, Muskan Sanstha, Sangli, Maharashtra
31. Bhanupriya, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
32. Aadvik Verma, Delhi,
33. Prathiksha, Hosadurga, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Karnataka
34. Varsha, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka
35. Usha. Sangama, Karnataka.
36. Inchara, Payana & Sangama, Karnataka.
37. Sakshi, Hiriyur, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Karnataka.
38. Supriya, Sangama, Dabaspet, Karanataka
39. Nisha Gulur, Sangama, Bangalore, Karnataka
40. Krithika, Samara, Sheshadripuram, Bangalore
41. Nitheli, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
42. Bhavana, Samara, Bangalore, Karnataka.
43. Eranna, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Chellakare, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
44. Mohamed Umar, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hirayur, Karnataka.
45. Prabavathi, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hosadurga, Karnataka.
46. Karthika, Bangalore, Karnataka.
47. Swadhana, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
48. Ashwini Rajan, Sammilana Samsthe, Kolar, Karnataka
49. Radhika, Sankalp Trust, Karnataka
50. Jennifer, Samastha, Karnataka
51. Anu, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hosadurga, Karnataka.
52. Roopa, Bangalore, Karnataka.
53. Suraj, Transman, Delhi.
54. Neha, Saathi, Warangal, Telangana
55. Prapulladevi K N, Bangalore, Karnataka
56. Jeeva, Sangama, Bangalore, Karnataka
57. Vandana, Payana, Bangalore, Karnataka
58. Chinnu P S Karnataka Ashakiran Samajika Seva Samajhte, Yadgir, Karnataka
59. Sonu, Payana, Bangalore, Karnataka
60. Mallika, Hiriyur, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Karnataka.
61. Suma, Samara Society, Bangalore, Karnataka
62. Alikeya, Hiriyur, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Karnataka.
63. Dustu, Kolkata, West Bengal.
64. Shivank Singh, Delhi
65. Sayantika Mondal, Kolkata, West Bengal.
66. Reecha, Ashodhaya, Mysore, Karnataka.
67. Kavya, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
68. Mamatha, Village Dinka, Taluk, Pandavapura, Mandya, Karnataka.
69. Sneha, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
70. Abhay Thakkar, Delhi
71. Navya, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
72. Ramesh, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
73. Nagma, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
74. Kaushal Bodwal, Hasratein, A Queer Collective.
75. Rudraneel Dhar, Kolkata, West Bengal
76. Nimith, Ashodhaya, Mysore, Karnataka.
77. Apsara, Sangama, Mysore, Karnataka.
78. Madhumitha, Sangama, Mysore, Karnataka.
79. Thamanahiriyur, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
80. Prathima, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
81. Sana Roy, Sangama, Bangalore, Karnataka.
82. Kabir Beakta, The Happy Transman Group, Mumbai, Maharashtra,
83. Sandy Talukdar, West Bengal
84. Rian Ghos, Kolkata
85. Veena, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
86. Karno Bhattacharjee. Transman, Kolkata, West Bengal.
87. Prabha, Debaspete, Sangama, Karnataka
88. Neel Yadav, Gurgaon
89. Arush Mondal, Transman, Kolkata, West Bengal
90. Kishu Bhati, Law student, Greater Noida
91. Chandana, Samara, Mandya, Karnataka
92. Soujanya, Samara, Mandya, Karnataka
93. Souharya Das, Kolkata
94. Madhushree, Store work, Ramanagara, Karnataka
95. Monisha, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
96. Neelam, Haryana
97. Diksha, Sangama, Kodagu Kushalnaga, Karnataka.
98. Arti J, Karnataka Magalamuki Foundation, Bangalore.
99. Manik, Transman, Kolkata, West Bengal.
100. Siddharta Pal, Kolkata, West Bengal.
101. Advik Verma, Delhi
102. Inchra, Payana, Bangalore, Karnataka.
103. Sachi, Sangama & Payana, Bangalore, Karnataka.
104. Anirudhha Dutta, Associate Prof, University of Iowa
105. Yaana, Sangama, Bangalore, Karnataka.
106. Mayuri Allvekar, President, Maitri Foundation, Kolhapur, Maharashtra
107. Adv. Mukul Inamdar, Pune, Maharashtra
108. Sadhya Pawar, Mumbai Maharashtra
109. Manjula, Sangama, Mandya, Karnataka
110. Pratyush Dey, Kolkata, West Bengal.
111. Bubun Chakraborty, Kolkata, West Bengal.
112. Lipika, Sangama & Samara, Bangalore, Karnataka.
113. Swapna, Payana, Bangalore
114. Nithya, Payana, Bangalore
115. Sneha, Payana, Bangalore
116. Dhana, Bangalore,
117. Prakruthi, Sangama, Koraterege, Tumkur, Karnataka.
118. Sangeetha, Samara Society Bangalore, Karnataka,
119. Keerthi, Sangama, Mandya, Karnataka.
120. Vasant, Samara, Bangalore, Karnataka.
121. Sarika, Mandya, Sangama, Karnataka.
122. Kruplai Bidaye, Mumbai
123. Sagnik Paul, West Bengal
124. Aruna, Murshidabad, West Bengal
125. Amrita Saha, Kolkata, West Bengal
126. Vihaan, Transman, Delhi
127. Gollapalli Kiran Raj, Society for Transmen Action and Rights, AP And Telangana.
128. Sonika, Samara Society, Jayanagar, Bangalore, Karnataka
129. Sumithra, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
130. Thanushree, Karnataka Mangalamukhi Foundation Bangalore, Karnataka
131. Gowthami, Mysore, Karnataka,
132. Somuya, Humsafar, Mumbai, Maharashtra
133. Reecha, Vahini Samudaya Samathe, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
134. Niharika Banerjea, Ambedkar University, Delhi & Sappho for Equality
135. Sumita Beethi, Sappho for Equality Kolkata, West Bengal
136. Sutanuka Bhattacharya, Student Ambedkar University Delhi, Sappho for Equality
137. Archee Roy, Sappho for Equality, Kolkata, West Bengal
138. Rituparna Bhattacharya, Kolkata, West Bengal
139. Kanakaraj Kellodu, Vahini Samudaya Samsthe, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
140. Rayan Dey, Kolkata
141. Dr. Sanskar Gosai, Mahuva
142. Saransh Srivastava, Happy Transman Group, Delhi
143. Nishu Vats, Happy Transman Group, Bangalore.
144. Sivam Laha, Howrah, West Bengal
145. Nayan Tendulkar, Happy Transman Group, Mumbai, Maharashtra
146. Amay Bannerjee, Kolkata, West Bengal
147. Avinaba Dutta (Avi), Kolkata, West Bengal
148. Ray, Trans Rights Activist, New Delhi
149. Chandramukhi, THITS, Hyderabad.
150. Faisu Faisal, Trans activist, Kerala.
151. Anjali, Trans activist, Andhra Pradesh
152. Ganga Bhavani, Anatapur, Andhra Pradesh,
153. Vinnu, Hyderabad.
154. Anchal, Hyderabad.
155. Neethu, Telangana.
156. Meera Jasmine, Hyderabad.

Copy to:

1. The Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, New Delhi
2. The Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, Govt. of India, New Delhi