NLSIU and Bangalore Univ push for inclusion of transgenders in law schools

Friday, 23 July 2010 By Kian Ganz Law schools

NLSIU Bangalore vice-chancellor Professor Venkata Rao has proposed to include “others” as a gender on the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) forms in order to encourage transgender persons to apply to law schools, the Times of India reported today.

“We planned to include it this year itself but CLAT forms had already been issued. The proposal will be put before the committee which may meet in October or November and see that adequate space is given to them,” Rao told the Times of India.

Bangalore University already has amended its application forms, with vice-chancellor N Prabhu Dev telling the paper that many transgenders were unfortunately hesitant to pursue higher education because they feared being discriminated against or ragged.

“They have equal rights like any other students,” said Dev. “I have explained to the professors about admitting transgenders. Moreover, no student in the university should illtreat them. If any student harasses or bothers transgenders, a case of ragging will be booked and severe action initiated.”

Comments

lawyerlawyer 23 Jul 2010, 22:32

+0 -0

Excellent decision. I hope this gets through. The student community in national law universities is sensitive enough on gender and sexuality issues, the time is indeed right.

Anonymous guest 23 Jul 2010, 22:41

While I support this fully, isn't this more symbolic than anything else? Has a transgender person ever made it to these national law universities? Ever? I can bet, the answer is NO.

legaldrift 23 Jul 2010, 23:18

I commendable effort indeed.

Anonymous guest 23 Jul 2010, 23:44

cheap publicity stunt. how will this "encourage" transsexuals to apply to law schools? they can just sit for the CLAT like everyone else.

this affirmative action thing is becoming a craze. i suppose NALSAR will come up with something soon in order to catch up with NLSIU and NUJS. perhaps reservation for jains?

Meerkat 24 Jul 2010, 05:39

Sad to see criticism from #4 and i'm sure there are others who share the same view as him. The air of negativity just plagues far too many people today. Try and imagine spending a day in the life of a transgender person and you will realize this isn't just a publicity stunt - not to them.

Good to see NLSIU and BU come up with a commendable policy. Especially BU.. whose recent track record have given me the most stressful final semester in college. Its time other institutions across sectors followed suit.

Anonymous guest 24 Jul 2010, 16:17

Good to see NLSIU and BU trying to make a difference!

Anonymous guest 25 Jul 2010, 15:31

@ #4: NALSAR has more reservation than NLSIU and NUJS.
NALSAR has reservation for AP candidates. That is NOT affirmative action.
NLSIU is planning reservation for transgenders who are perpetually left out of the mainstream. That is affirmative action.

PS: Saddening to see you don't realise the need for such a policy in everywhere. Transgenders are truly suppressed. When there can reservation for women, SC/ST, domicile (who are generally well off.. especially those who claim reservation) reservation for transgenders (who are by far the most oppressed in society today) in being questioned.

Anonymous guest 25 Jul 2010, 16:36

@5: so what do you have to say about hijras who a make a carer out of harassing people and drawing attention to themselves?

Meerkat 25 Jul 2010, 19:07

I say put yourself in the shoes of a hijra... understand how limited their choices in life are from the minute they are born, and maybe you wont need me to answer that question for you.

Anonymous guest 26 Jul 2010, 01:49

This is excellent. Go NLS, Go BU. Perhaps this indicates the return of NLS as a liberal institution and agent of change and not a right-wing corporate factory.

Anonymous guest 27 Jul 2010, 22:55

BU does not have a law school anymore. ULC is now affiliated to Karnatak Law Univ. BU is pushing for seats in non-law stream.

krakar 7 Sept 2010, 12:06

I think it's a wonderful thing to do.It's disappointing that many do not approve of this idea.Well I don't know what to tell those people.Only if they place themselves in that position will they understand how important this decision is in a transgender's life.
Even they wish to come up in life.

Commenting is closed for this article.