July 15, 2018:
Assam's First Transgender judge will began work at Lok Adalat in Guwahati from Saturday making the North Eastern State the third one in the country, after West Bengal and Maharashtra to have one such.
On Friday, Swati Bidhan Roy stated that she will begin her stint in Court Number 25 in the Kamrup District and Sessions Court on after being appointed to the post by Kamrup (Metro) District Legal Services.
She stated that,"My appointment as a Judge in the Lok Adalat is a very positive message for the society and will help create awareness on discrimination against transgenders".
Roy further added that,"Capacity and capability of transgenders must be recognised and they must be provided with ample opportunities to ensure that they can lead a dignified life. I hope that I am able to maintain the principle of natural justice as a judge as Lok Adalats deal with settlement outside the court through arbitration, conciliation and mediation".
While speaking on the problems faced by transgenders in Assam, she added that their current one is getting their names registered in National Register of Citizens(NRC) as most of them are disowned by their families during their childhood and do not possess any document to prove their citizenship.
Swati Roy stated that, "We have documented the list of transgenders in the state and will soon appeal to the Supreme Court to ensure that they are included in the NRC and not labelled as foreigners", she said.
Roy stated that she has plans to initiate mass sensitisation to end discrimination against transgenders and ensure that they get proper opportunities to lead a life of dignity.
Joyita Mondal of North Dinajpur in West Bengal is Country's first transgender judge and Vidya Kamble from Nagpur in Maharashtra the second. Mondal assumed office in July,2017 and Kamble in February, 2018.
Source NDTV
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