HC Directs Delhi Govt To Decide In One Month Plea Seeking Recognition Of Transgender Community As A Third Gender For Bus Travel

The Delhi High Court has granted one month’s time to Delhi Government to comply with the Division Bench’s Order to decide plea seeking recognition of transgender community as a third gender for providing free travel to them in buses.

The bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was dealing with the plea seeking compliance of the directions issued by the Division Bench vide order dated October 19, 2022 wherein the Delhi Government was directed to decide the representation of the Petitioner within four months.

The counsel for the Petitioner stated that the four month’s period granted by the Division Bench expired on Feb 19, 2023 and therefore, the wilful non-compliance of the order is writ large on the record. The counsel added that the indecision of respondents is causing grave prejudice to the Petitioner who suffers during his bus travel.

Advocate Amit George appeared for the petitioner whereas Standing Counsel Avnish Ahlawat appeared for DTC and Udit Malik, ASC, appeared for GNCTD.

“The direction issued by the Division Bench through GNCTD is limited to taking a decision on the representation of the Petitioner and therefore, the Respondent’s inaction and non-consideration of the said representation for more than six months is certainly protracted”, the Court said.

The Court granted last opportunity to comply with the Orders of the Division Bench.

“At request of the learned counsel for the Respondents, by way of a last opportunity, the matter is adjourned and the Respondents are directed to comply with the orders of the Division Bench within a period of one month, failing which the Managing Director of Respondent No. 2 shall remain present in Court on the next date of hearing”, the Court ordered while posting the matter to August 18, 2023.

Cause Title- Amit Juyal v. Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors.

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