HC directs Govt to address Covid affected transgender
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 22 2021:
The High Court of Manipur in an interim order directed the government to accept form submitted by transgender people for the Chief Minister's Covid-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme even though the last date has lapsed.
An affidavit filed by social welfare director in response to a petition filed by transgender activist Thangjam Santa stated that the notification dated 13.07.2021 was modified, whereby a household wherein the main bread-earner is a transgender is also made eligible for the benefits of the scheme.
Similarly, household wherein a member of the family was a transgender but not the main bread-earner is also eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme in the name of the household.
However, the notification did not extend the last date of form submission, which is August 7, 2021, so as to enable these eligible people to put in their applications for appropriate benefits.
Consequently, a double bench of chief justice of the High Court of Manipur Sanjay Kumar and justice Lanusungkum Jamir gave an interim direction to the authorities to ensure that the applications made on behalf of households wherein transgender are either main bread-earners or family members are also covered by the scheme, even if they were submitted after August 7.The court also directed two other respondents to file their counter affidavits before the next date of hearing, which has been fixed on November 9 .