STAFF REPORTER MUMBAI The State government on Friday informed the High Court that eunuchs cannot be covered under the SC/ ST Act . The court was hearing a petition, filed by an NGO, seeking direction to secure the fundamental right of eun
uchs.
On January 2, Salvation of Oppressed Eunuchs, an NGO, filed a public interest litigation in the High Court claiming that eunuchs are forced to beg or work as sex workers.
The petition has asked for amendments to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, dealing with rape, so as to include sexual assaults against eunuchs.
The petition said that a law similar to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, should be enacted to cover cases of abuse and use of derogatory terms and language against eunuchs.
Appearing for the Central government, Advocate Rui Rodrigues requested the court for the appointment of a nodal officer because so many ministries are involved.
Appearing for the State government, Advocate G W Mattos said that transgenders and eunuchs are already falling under alt39 otheralt39 category for the purpose of population census and there is no need for any corrections in this regard.
The petitioner Dr Piyush Saxena told the court that when the enumerators go to eunuch households, they ask for details and documents like fathers name, address etc., which eunuch do not have. In the absence of these details, it is impossible for most of eunuchs to get a voters ID card.
However, the court asked the Central and State governments to clarify under which department the matter of eunuchs falls and file their reply by May 4.
