Are gays transgender? SC’s rap for question

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, June 30

The Supreme Court today pulled up the Centre for seeking a clarification if gays should be treated as transgender and offered reservation in jobs and educational institutions under the Other Backward Classes quota.

A Bench told Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh that the government should in fact be asked to pay a penalty for coming up with such doubts, thereby wasting the time of the court.

How could lesbians, gays and bisexuals be categorised as transgender and offered quota, the Bench asked the ASG. Singh, however, said the Centre was seeking the clarification as a measure of abundant caution.

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The SC had on April 15, 2012, directed the government to treat the transgender community comprising eunuchs as socially backward and offer them jobs.