Exclusive’ toilet for transgenders at Pune court
Efforts were taken by the Principal District Judge Sanjay Deshmukh who is ex-office chairman of DLSA, Pune and DLSA, Pune secretary Mangal Kashyap to make this a reality.
The District Legal Service Authority, Pune has a special toilet for the transgender community at the Pune District and Session Court.
The law students, lawyers and activists had been demanding separate toilets for the third gender from the Principal District Judge. Efforts were taken by the Principal District Judge Sanjay Deshmukh who is ex-office chairman of DLSA, Pune and DLSA, Pune secretary Mangal Kashyap to make this a reality.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, DLSA secretary Mangal Kashyap said, “The National Legal Service Authority has the principal objective of providing free and competent legal services to the disadvantaged group of the society and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen for economic or other disadvantages. When I took charge, I thought of doing something for the third gender and accordingly had a meeting with them and as a first step, to provide equality we have made a separate toilet for them. It is also one of the norms laid down under the Protection of Rights of Transgender Act 2019 to respect the privacy of the Third gender. The toilet became operational in July.”
She added, “Recently, during a follow-up, I noticed it has been utilized by other people and to avoid chaos, we have personally put the board and created awareness that it has been maintained strictly for the transgenders. In rare and emergency cases, we may permit others to use it but we want transgenders to understand that we are with them always. The central government has made a special law to honour the community. There is a need to remove the misconceptions about the transgender community in the society. It is the responsibility of the society to provide them with the necessary support and make this an inclusive society.”
Advocate Vivek Bhargude, vice president of Pune Bar Association said, “A few transgenders approached us and DLSA about the toilet being used by others, based on which we have asked our lawyers as well as the clients who approached the court not to use such toilets. The usage of the toilet by the third gender has increased. In a few cases, they are coming to court on time because they don’t have to worry about the toilet. As law protectors, we are also creating awareness about the transgenders in the society.”
Chandani Gore, a transgender and a social activist for the community appreciated the initiative and said,” We welcome the move of DLSA, Pune and the way they are working for our community. We are used to a culture where various organizers work for us just for a day and showcase to the world that they are with us, but when we follow up, they don’t respond. DLSA has not only taken steps towards a separate toilet but they are also maintaining it well. Now we have realised that they are continuously taking efforts for our good.”
Chaitraly Deshmukh Tajane
