A petition in Supreme Court has been filed by advocate Reepak Kansal for equal protection of the transgender community against sexual crimes, Live Law reports.
The petition states that clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) of Section 354A of the IPC (Section 354A deals with sexual harassment) violates Article 14, 15 and 21of the Constitution as it excludes transgender victims of sexual harassment. The petition also states that Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution do not limit the definition of the word person to a man and woman.
The petition says that despite the NALSA verdict granting recognition to third gender, there is no provison in law protecting them from sexual assault by male,female or another transgender person. The petition also points to how trans people are subjected to sexual assault in police custody and the lack of separate cells for trans people in jails.
The petition additionally seeks directions from the court for an anti-discrimination law.