A Public Interest Litigation was brought forward by C.M, a social worker, who challenged Government order No. 10, dated 15.10.2015, which provided for 2bhk housing facility by the Telangana government to the poor section of the state. The petitioner challenged the Government order claiming that it did not include transpersons and also asked the court to direct the government to provide reservations to the said community for their upliftment.

The Petitioner told the court that the government is inviting applications for allocation of 2BHK houses only from such persons who have Food Security Cards and are treated as Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and concurrently, the transpersons do not possess such cards. The Government counsel, however, claimed that there was no discriminatory policy towards the transpersons, and categorically stated that all persons i.e., males, females, and transgender community, are incorporated in the aforesaid Government Order.

Disposing of a public interest petition (PIL) petition, a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili said the government can consider allotting 2BHK houses to transgenders if they fulfill terms and conditions laid down in the said government order.

– by Hamda Arfeen