Bihar Caste Census: Transgender told caste in Bihar caste census, case reached High Court

Bihar Caste Census: The second phase regarding caste census in Bihar has started from Saturday (April 15). It will run till May 15.

Bihar Caste Census: The transgender community has reached the Patna High Court, terming the caste census in Bihar as discriminatory. While filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the court on behalf of transgender people, social activist Reshma Prasad termed it political.

The second phase of the caste census in Bihar has started on Saturday (April 15), which will continue till May 15. In this, 22 numbers have been allotted for the third gender. Regarding this, it was said in PIS that it is wrong to call transgender as a caste.

What was said in the petition?

Reshma Prasad said, “I am not calling the whole process of caste census wrong, but it is absolutely wrong to put the transgender community in one caste.” International guidelines and NLSA (National Legal Services Authority- NLSA) vs Union of India have given us gender identity and not caste identity. Apart from Bihar, no other country or state has done this. This is condemnable.

Prasad said in the petition that it is unconstitutional to declare transgender as a caste. It is not under Article 14, 15, 16, 19(1). Articles 14 and 16 give us equality, 19 the right to live in 21 freedom of expression. In this case it is not correct.

What arguments did you give?

Talking to a news website, Madhu, who is preparing for BPSC, said that I identify as a trans woman. It is very wrong that I will be called transgender caste because I already have a caste identity. The government should think on this.

Advika Chaudhary, a trans woman preparing to join the Bihar Police, questioned whether the gender identity of government officers is caste or whether they themselves already have a caste.

Courtesy: ABP News

Note: This news piece was originally published in thewire.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights

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