‘Transgender’ A New Category In Delhi University Admission Form For PG Courses

The Indian law does not recognize homosexuality and has criminalized it under section 377 however the law does not consider transgenders as delinquents. But still the third gender is not recognized in under Indian law. Gainsaying this fact a welcome change has been introduced by the Delhi University wherein ‘transgender’ will now be added as a new category for PG admissions from the current academic session.

According to the sources applicants from the transgender community will be enrolled as part of a special category which will fall under the OBC quota.

Alka Sharma, DU’s registrar shared that the varsity had planned to offer admissions under the transgender category as part of the undergraduate (UG) admission process in 2014. However, the university could not do the same due to administrative reasons. She further stated that DU would be introducing the transgender category in UG admissions from the academic session commencing in 2015.

In July 2014, UGC had issued a notice asking all varsities to include transgenders in different fellowship/scholarship schemes. However, DU’s registrar reveals that the university had already set the process in motion to include transgenders in its admission process much before UGC had issued any such directive. She also shared that DU’s application forms for teacher’s recruitment also has “transgenders” as a separate category.

Though it’s a small step towards providing the right to choose one’s own destiny but we still have a long way to go…