Railways have decided to include transgender as the third option under gender category in Indian Railways and IRCTC along with male and female in the ticket reservation and cancellation forms.
The decision was taken on a representation made by a Delhi-based lawyer in which he demanded to provide them the equal facility of reservation and cancellation available both online and offline.
Decision implemented by the Railways after a representation of a Delhi-based lawyer
Advocate, Jamshed Ansari had made the representation to the Railway Ministry after the Delhi High Court quashed his petition in February. In its circular referred to the direction of the apex court of April 2014, the ministry mentioned that hijras, eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be treated as a third gender for their rights.
The supreme Court directed in its judgment that the Hijras, Eunuchs, a part from binary gender be treated as a third gender for the purpose of protection their rights under Part III of our Constitution and the laws made by the parliament and the state legislature.
Transgender as a third gender to provide equal facilities
“It has, therefore, been decided to include the third gender/transgender option alongside male/female in reservation /cancellation requisition form. This information will be captured by the system and tickets to transgender will be issued on full fare,” the circular stated.
The advocate Jamshed Ansari in his PIL before the high court had alleged violate on of Article 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, by non-inclusion of Transgender as a gender option in its forms.
Ansari further sought the compliance of the judgment of the apex court in which Central and state government have been directed to recognize transgender as the third sex and to also provide them with the benefits accord to socially and economically backward classes.
He further demanded special coaches and reserved seats for the community in all the trains for their ‘care and protection.’ At the same time, the bench headed by the Chief Justice G Rohini has asked the Railway Ministry to look into the averments.
