CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Monday granted a month’s time to the Tamil Nadu government to submit the draft policy for the welfare of trans persons. Justice N Anand Venkatesh, while hearing a batch of petitions related to issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, granted the social welfare department time till July 21 to file the draft policy.
The judge questioned the inordinate delay in finalising and submitting the draft in the court so that it could be circulated to the stakeholders to elicit their views.
Earlier this year, the department had informed the court that it was decided to frame two separate policies - one for trans persons and another for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and asexual (LGBQA+) communities.
Despite expressing reservations, the court had directed the department to file the draft policy by June 2. However, officials submitted on Monday that the draft was still being finalised, as it took time to get inputs from multiple departments.
Expressing displeasure over the delay, the judge commented that the court could only pass the order and it was up to the government to comply. He noted that the current situation in Tamil Nadu was most conducive for introducing inclusive welfare policies for these highly marginalised communities, and that the opportunity should not be allowed to slip away.
The case has been posted for further hearing on July 21.