Transform

International Conference on Transgender Rights and the Law.

Transgender Identity & The Law Course

An elective university course on transgender identity and the law.

Publications

How Karnataka took the lead in horizontal reservations for transgender persons

September 29, 2021 | Jayna Kothari | Mihir Rajamane

In this article published by news9live.com, Jayna Kothari and Mihir Rajamane discuss the recent order by the Karnataka Government for providing 1% horizontal reservation for transgender persons.

We don’t want your blood’ exclusion of Sexual Minorities from Blood Donation

February 17, 2021 | Thulasi K. Raj

In this blog post, Thulasi K. Raj argues that the exclusion of sexual minorities from blood donations is violative of non-discrimination under Articles 14 and 15.

Welfare as a Human Right: An Intersectional Approach to Trans Rights in India

April 12, 2022 | Mansi Singh | Mihir Rajamane

In this article, published by the Oxford Human Rights Hub, Mansi Singh, and Mihir Rajamane explore the need to accommodate welfare in judicial analysis of LGBTQ+ rights, by acknowledging close intersections between queer identities and identities of caste, disability and class.

Litigation

1% Horizontal Reservation for Transgender Persons

November 26, 2021 | Almas Shaikh

CLPR assisted Jeeva, an organization working extensively on the rights of transgender persons, in filing an application seeking horizontal reservations to be provided to transgender persons in public employment which led to Karnataka becoming the first Indian state to provide 1% horizontal reservation for transgender persons.

All Assam Transgender Association v. Union of India

October 20, 2021 | Deepika Hungenahally

This Petition is filed in public interest on behalf of the transgender community in Assam and in India to protect their right to adequate representation in the National Council for Transgender Persons as provided under Section 16 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 (‘The Act’).

News And Media

Bar and Bench

Karnataka High Court seeks State govt response on plea seeking separate hostels for Transgender students in educational institutions

March 24, 2022

Bar and bench reported on Karnataka High Court’s notice to the State government on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking separate hostels and accommodation for transgender students in higher educational institutions in the State of Karnataka.

Bar and Bench

Transgender persons should be given separate reservation, not clubbed with women’s reservation: Madras High Court

March 23, 2022

Bar & Bench reported on the Madras Court’s order where the court recommended the State government to provide a specific percentage of separate reservation for the Third Gender (TG) or transgender persons in matters of future public employment.

Bar and Bench

Madras High Court seeks response from Tamil Nadu govt on plea seeking COVID-19 cash relief to Transgender persons not holding ration cards

May 22, 2021

Bar & Bench reported on the Madras Court’s order where the court sought a response from the Tamil Nadu government on a plea seeking COVID-19 cash relief to Transgender persons who do not possess ration cards.

Blog

School Policies on Gender and Sexuality

August 12, 2022

School Policies on Gender and Sexuality

August 12, 2022

While there have some been some legal developments regarding LGBTQI+ rights in India, we are miles away in terms of societal acceptance. The first step towards this goal is for awareness and sensitisation to start in schools. In this blog, Nayantara interviews students and a teacher of Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore, to discuss how the school deals with issues relating to gender and sexuality, and the way forward.

Trans Students and Educational Spaces: The Need for Better Policies

May 20, 2022

Trans Students and Educational Spaces: The Need for Better Policies

May 20, 2022

Educational institutions play a pivotal role in a student’s life, but for transgender students in India they remain another hurdle to conquer. The question of high trans dropout rates and lesser number of trans students in India finds its roots in the lack of inclusive policies being implemented. This blog argues the need for Indian institutions to make better policies and ensure holistic education for all.

Notes on Allyship

October 12, 2022 | Rajeev Anand Kushwah

In this opinion piece, published by Gaysi, Rajeev Anand Kushwah explores the understanding of Allyship, exploring what constitutes effective allyship, and what support straight allies can extend to queer movements and communities.

On abortion, Supreme Court has listened to Women

October 3, 2022 | Jayna Kothari

CLPR Executive Director Jayna Kothari writes for the Indian Express on the recent Supreme Court judgement which expanded the abortion rights of women and persons who require safe medical termination of pregnancies. She argued that the judgement upheld the right of all women and girls to make reproductive choices for themselves, without undue interference from the state. She emphasised that any deprivation of reproductive healthcare services negatively affects the dignity of women.

Pride Matters | Beyond Sec 377, the call for trans equality reaches a crescendo

July 12, 2022

In this article published by the Hindustan Times, Jayna Kothari highlights the need to support the transgender rights movement amidst the various human rights violations happening worldwide. In her piece, she says “Everyone needs to join the battle for trans rights, because the systemic changes required to put these basic rights in place would benefit everyone.”

Welfare as a Human Right: An Intersectional Approach to Trans Rights in India

April 12, 2022 | Mansi Singh | Mihir Rajamane

In this article, published by the Oxford Human Rights Hub, Mansi Singh, and Mihir Rajamane explore the need to accommodate welfare in judicial analysis of LGBTQ+ rights, by acknowledging close intersections between queer identities and identities of caste, disability and class.

1% Horizontal Reservation for Transgender Persons

November 26, 2021 | Almas Shaikh

CLPR assisted Jeeva, an organization working extensively on the rights of transgender persons, in filing an application seeking horizontal reservations to be provided to transgender persons in public employment which led to Karnataka becoming the first Indian state to provide 1% horizontal reservation for transgender persons.

All Assam Transgender Association v. Union of India

October 20, 2021 | Deepika Hungenahally

This Petition is filed in public interest on behalf of the transgender community in Assam and in India to protect their right to adequate representation in the National Council for Transgender Persons as provided under Section 16 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 (‘The Act’).

Ondede v. Union of India

September 9, 2021

This is a public interest litigation filed by the Petitioners before the High Court of Karnataka challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 12(3), 18(a) and 18(d) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The petition has been filed stating that the impugned 2019 Act has been passed but the provisions are in violation of Articles, 14,15, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

09th

Dec 2022

Transform 2022 Public Panel Discussion

Venue Xavier's Hall, St. Joseph's Institute of Management

Time 5 PM

Read more

30th

Aug 2022

Why (Queer) History Matters: The Politics of History

Venue Online

Time 12:30 PM

University of Bergen is organising "Why (Queer) History Matters: The Politics of History" an international and interdisciplinary conference on 29–30 August 2022.

Read more

The Leaflet

Celebrating a decade of NALSA means nothing in absence of political will for inclusion and representation of transgender community— Dr Akkai Padmashali

May 30, 2023

In this interview article, Executive Director of CLPR and Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari who represented Dr. Akkai Padmashali in the Marriage Equality hearing case is mentioned giving her account on the struggles faced by Dr. Padmashali in response to an insinuation that non-heterosexuality was an “urban elite concept”.

India Today

Same Sex marriage hearing Day 10: Key Takeaways

May 30, 2023

Jayna Kothari, Executive Director at CLPR & senior advocate at the Supreme Court, alongwith other senior advocates for the petitioners argued that “marriage” should also include the larger bouquet of rights, including not just “cohabitation”, but also the “socio-legal recognition” of “marriage”.

India Today

Supreme Court reserves judgment on same-sex marriage

May 12, 2023

The ongoing Marriage Equality hearings (same-sex marriage petition) at the Supreme Court of India came to a close yesterday and the apex court has reserved its judgement on the case. Senior advocate and Executive Director of CLPR, Jayna Kothari, representing the petitioners, touched upon the Special Marriage Act 1954 being a law for freedom of choice in marriage.

Feminism In India

Demanding Dignity: Decoding The Legal Movement For Horizontal Reservations

April 25, 2023

The movement to demand horizontal reservations for trans persons has gained momentum across India, the recent protests come in the backdrop of a March 27 decision of the Supreme Court refusing to hear the plea seeking a separate horizontal extension of reservations for trans persons. In this article, CLPR’s Policy Brief, “Horizontal Reservations for Transgender Persons : Taking Intersectionality Forward” is referred to alongwith a quote by Jayna Kothari, Senior Advocate and Executive Director, CLPR, who represents the petitioner in this case.