‘Will Help Create Awareness About Discrimination Against Transgenders,’ Says First Trans Judge From Assam

Swati Bidhan Baruah from Guwahati is the first transgender judge in Assam and third in the country to intercede cases in a national Lok Adalat on July 14, 2018. She will be one among the 20 judges in the Lok Adalat

In July 2017, Joyita Mondal was appointed as a Lok Adalat judge in north Bengal. She was the first ever transgender judge the country had followed by Vidya Kamble in Maharashtra in February this year.

Will create awareness among others

In 2012, Swati Baruah decided to undergo a sex reassignment operation which was opposed by her family members. She underwent the operation after it was permitted by the Bombay High Court, reported The Telegraph.

“My appointment as a judge in the Lok Adalat is a very positive message for the society and will help create awareness on discrimination against transgenders,” she told the reporters of The Times of India.

The Supreme Court in 2014 ruled that transgenders should be treated as a third gender in India, opening the gates to job and education opportunities for them. While this move legally bestowed them with rights at par with the general public, there is still a long way to go before the society accepts them and treats them equally.

The Logical Indian community congratulates Swati Baruah and hopes that she has a wonderful future ahead.

The transgender community has always been oppressed and marginalized and meted out with all forms of violence and abuse, physical, psychological as well as sexual. In light of this scenario, the appointment of transgenders to public offices, such as judges will give them much-needed representation and a “voice” on the public forum, and help them fight for their rights and improve their social status and standard of life.

Also Read:Tamil Nadu: First Ever Indian Transgender Cop Takes Charge In Chennai

Originally published at The Logical Indian.