Punjab, Haryana categorise eunuchs as male for govt jobs

Punjab creates ‘transgender’ job category for eunuchs

Fri, Feb 12 04:26 AM

The Punjab government has decided to create a separate category in application forms under which eunuchs can apply for government vacancies.

Although there was no bar on eunuchs to apply for government jobs, this is the first time the state has given them an option to choose their identity apart from the men and women categories.

Eunuchs aspiring for government jobs can now choose the new category — “transgender” — in application forms. But eventually those selected will be considered in the category of men, officials said.

The decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting attended by Chief Secretary S C Aggarwal, Home Secretary A R Talwar and Punjab’s Additional Advocate General Rupinder S Khosla.

“The decision has been taken to pave way for eunuchs so that they can also be considered for government jobs. After all, they are also human beings,” Khosla told The Indian Express. “The decision to consider them in the category of men was taken as considering them in the category of women will not be a prudent keeping in view public sensitivities.”

He added that though the sex determination of a eunuch — whether male or female — was ruled out because of the costs involved. “It will be an expensive affair as each detection costs around Rs 2,500. Thus, in order to avoid undue burden on the state exchequer, the Punjab government has decided to keep them in the category of men,” Khosla added.

Appreciating the stand taken by the Punjab government, a division bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh directed Haryana to clear its stand keeping in view the decision taken by the Punjab government. The Central government has also been asked to clarify whether eunuchs shall be considered in male or female category.

The development took place during the resumed hearing of a PIL filed by Kajal Mangal Mukhi, a eunuch who is an advocate by profession. Mukhi had sought directions for the states to allow eunuchs to join government services.

(link to full article on yahoo news)

Let’s talk about sex, and rights, Pakistan

A new magazine aims to spark a debate about sexuality in the Muslim country.

Andrew Buncombe reports from Lahore
Friday, 3 April
SOURCE:  The Independent

Pakistan’s first magazine about sexuality, Chay, is just three issues old yet already it is creating ripples within this conservative, buttoned-down and overwhelmingly Muslim society. And if those behind the new publication, currently only available online, fulfil their dream of producing a print edition, then those ripples may even turn to waves.

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