With a lot of goodwill, and some support from treasury and Opposition benches, the Rajya Sabha, in a rare legislative action, passed a Private Member’s Bill seeking to protect the rights of transgenders. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, moved by DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, was passed unanimously by voice vote on Friday. The Bill will now be tabled in the lok Sabha by a person authorised by Siva for its passage in the lower House as well.
This is the 15th Private Member’s Bill to be passed since 1954. The last one — The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968 — was passed in 1970. Now 46 years later, The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, was passed when leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, after gauging the sense of the House, decided to give up the resistance and go with the general mood.
Siva had insisted on division after rejecting the assurance given by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot that the Government will come out with a comprehensive law in this regard. Gehlot said many issues were yet to be resolved among various ministries and clarification has been sought from the Supreme Court on some points.
Siva, however, did not yield and insisted on voting. “The Government is committed to plans, but we don’t want plans… These transgender people should be given their legitimate right in this country like any other citizen,” Siva said. He added the issue was important and needed to be taken up urgently to protect the rights of transgenders.
Egged by Congress members, Siva sought passage of the Bill despite three Ministers and the Chair’s request to take the Government’s assurance and not insist for voting and going against the tradition of the House.
Responding to Siva, Jaitley said it would not be proper if the House is divided on this issue as all feel in favour of the rights of transgenders. In fact, members cutting across party lines unanimously supported the Bill and urged the Government to take steps to bring the transgender community, facing social stigma and ostracism, into the mainstream. And for once, DMK’s arch-rival in Tamil Nadu politics AIADMK too favoured the Bill.
With 19 Union Ministers, including eight Cabinet Ministers, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh present to favour the Bill, Siva thanked all for supporting him. Moving the Bill for passage, Siva said 29 nations and leading democracies in the world -- including the US, UK, Canada, France, Australia, Italy and Singapore -- had legislations protecting rights of transgenders. “There are 4.5 lakh transgenders in the country, but reports say there are 20 to 25 lakh such people without having any recognition. They are discriminated against…The world is watching India closely. This will create conditions for an equal society,” Siva said.