Karnataka has become the first Indian state to set aside government jobs for transgenders by giving the community 1 percent reservation. The quota will be applicable to transgender candidates in all categories—general, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.
The state government had recently submitted a report to the Karnataka High Court, saying a notification had already been issued after amending the Karnataka Civil Service (General Recruitment) Rule, 1977.
Issued on July 6, the notification specifies one percent reservation in all categories for the third gender.
Whenever a notification is published inviting applications for the government jobs, ‘others’ column must be added along with male and female columns. The notification also underlines that there should not be any discrimination to the transgenders in the process of selection.
In case of non-availability of transgender candidates, the job could be given to male or female from the same category, the notification notes.
An NGO had filed a Public Interest Petition (PIL) in the High Court questioning denial of job opportunities in the State Special Reserve Constable Force and Bandsman postings. The High Court Divisional Bench headed by the Chief Justice A.S. Oka heard the case on Tuesday.
