12 transgender from Pune to join National Lok Adalat Judicial Panel for the first time 

On March 3, 2024, 12 transgender members from the Pune district and the session court will sit on the bench for the first time, representing the social workers’ organisation at the National Lok Adalat.

The main aim of this initiative is to change people’s perception of their ability to address transgender concerns when given a chance.

It is an initiative to address gender discrimination within society and convey a message towards equality. The aim is to change the mindset of the people about the capability of resolving the issues in transgender discourse if provided an opportunity. 

There are three member groups under each panel. One is for the judge, one is for the advocate or legal expert, and the third is for the social activist. The transgender members will be part of the social activist member group category.

Sonal Patil, the Pune District Legal Service Authority (PDLSA) secretary, said, “First we will identify them, and later they will be guided and trained about the working of the panels.”

There will be around 140 benches in the Lok Sabha, and over 2500 cases are said to be resolved in the upcoming section involving electric bills, loan recovery, and traffic challans.

The transgender members are selected based on their remarkable work in the field of social work.

This is going to be the first time that the social activist member group category of the panel has included transgender people to represent them at the National Lok Adalat.

A special desk for traffic-related issues has already been set up in Yerwada, and remaining cases like loan recovery, electricity bills, traffic challans, matrimonial cases, and many others will be settled in court.

Manasi Patil