NEW DELHI: The state governments of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Rajasthan have established Transgender Welfare Boards. This action follows a directive from the Supreme Court of India, announced on January 21, 2025. The court was informed of the progress during a hearing related to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Kinner Maa Eksamajik Sanstha Trust.
Terming it as a sensitive issue, the Supreme Court Today (Jan 3) said it will devise an effective mechanism to combat caste-based discrimination in educational institutions in the country. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to notify draft regulations to ensure no caste-based discrimination happened with students in the central, state, private and deemed universities.
Caste Discrimination
Pradipsingh Murlidharsingh Thakur, initially sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant wife, had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the Bombay High Court, which determined the case wasn’t among the “rarest of the rare.” The court later directed the review of his eligibility for remission, despite state opposition based on his police status.
Yesterday, On 12th November, The Supreme Court expressed concern over inadequate private washroom facilities for women judges in a Gujarat court, following a letter from a female judicial officer who had to use a senior judge’s restroom. The court emphasized the need for improved infrastructure for female judicial officers during a public interest litigation regarding toilet availability.
Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Karol shared a photo of a menstruating woman barred from her home, illustrating enduring menstrual taboos in India. He emphasized the need for awareness and change in women’s rights, calling for greater access to justice for those in rural areas and highlighting the Constitution’s role in promoting social and economic justice.
Two lawyers from the Bombay High Court filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police alleging discrimination against regular devotees at the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal. A viral video showed staff pushing regular visitors while VIPs were treated differently. The mistreatment of common people during the darshan of Lord Ganesha was highlighted, sparking concern over unequal treatment.
BJP MLA Abhay Verma today filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, alleging that the AAP-led Delhi government is showing bias in the installation of CCTV cameras by prioritizing areas represented by AAP members and neglecting those under BJP’s jurisdiction. The case, set to be heard on August 27, aims to ensure fairness and improve security in Laxmi Nagar.
The Central Government defended the criminalization of instant triple talaq, stating that it protects the rights of married Muslim women and promotes gender justice and equality. The 2019 law aims to safeguard women affected by triple talaq, following the Supreme Court’s invalidation of the practice and its review of the law. The government emphasized the legislative role in determining criminal conduct based on current social conditions.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna presided over a Supreme Court case where a petitioner threatened suicide if his plea was rejected due to an IIT rejection. The judge advised the petitioner against such statements, suggested seeking legal aid and counseling, and ultimately rejected the ambiguous petition with excessive respondents, including the Prime Minister and judges.