New Delhi, A bill seeking to give a precise definition of the term "transgender" and provide graded punishments that reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted upon such persons was introduced in Lok Sabha on Friday.
The Transgender Persons Amendment Bill was introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar, which notes that it is imperative to give a precise definition for proper and definitive identification and protection of transgender persons.
The bill defines a transgender person as the one having socio-cultural identities as 'kinner', 'hijra', 'aravani' and 'jogta', or eunuch, or a person with intersex variations or a person who, at birth, has a congenital variation in one or more sex characteristics as compared to male or female development.
It also includes any person or child who has been, by force, allurement, inducement, deceit or undue influence, either with or without consent, compelled to assume, adopt, or outwardly present a transgender identity, by mutilation, emasculation, castration, amputation, or any surgical, chemical, or hormonal procedure or otherwise.
The bill proposes to create specific offences with graded punishments that reflect the gravity of the harm, the irreversibility of the injury, and the particular vulnerability of child victims.
The person who has been issued a certificate of identity and is so declared as a transgender person will be entitled to change the first name in the birth certificate and all other official documents relating to their identity.
