Mx K Prithika Yashini has made her spot in Indian history, as the country’s first trans-gendered police officer in 2015. She also cleared the way for others!

Tamil Nadu should also stand proud as the first Indian state to appoint a transwoman as police officer after a court cleared hurdles that faced  Yashini.

The Madras High Court has directed Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) to appoint a transgender as Sub Inspector of police as she is entitled to get the job.

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, also directed TNUSRB to include transgenders as a “third category” by the next recruitment process is carried out.

It is a change that lifts a barrier. Tamil Nadu has cleared the decks for transgenders to enter the police force.

In the orders issued for appointment of 13,137 police constables, the government has said transgenders could apply either as male, female or third gender. Those opting for “third gender” would be under the female category for educational qualifications, physical fitness and reservation.

A senior police officer said this is the first time TG would  be formally inducted to the police department. The notification is expected in a month and the recruitment will be completed by December.

The case

The court directed Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) to consider transgender K Prithika Yashini’s application for the post was initially rejected, following which she moved the High Court.

“We are, thus, of the view that she is entitled to be recruited to the post of sub-inspector and for declaration of her result with the hope that she would carry out the duties with dedication and commitment to advance the cause of other transgenders,” the judges said appreciating the cause canvassed by Yashini and the fair stand taken by Advocate General A L Somayaj

Prithika Yashini submitted to the court that was she a male, K. Pradeep Kumar, till completion of PG diploma course in Computer Application, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. She then underwent a sex change at Kilpauk Medical College and legally notified the same.

When she wrote the exam for the post of SI, she cleared it but it was in the field trials that she missed the 100-metre cut-off by one second. She was rejected for this reason. Prithika Yashini then went to court challenging the rejection.

According to Deccan Chronicle report, the bench said, “We do not think that in the physical endurance test, a difference of 1.11 seconds should come in the way of the petitioner in being considered for recruitment. She will have to meet the benchmark of the recruitment process, but the case cannot be knocked out in the middle.”

(Prepared from media sources by Seema Kumari)

  LGBT, police force, Tamil Nadu, transgender