Shattering Stereotypes: The Challenges Faced by Transgender Police Officers in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu: Despite efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, gender and caste discrimination remain rampant in various industries, including law enforcement. This is especially true for transgender individuals, who often face significant hurdles in obtaining and maintaining employment due to societal stigmas and prejudices.

In Tamil Nadu, two transgender women have made headlines, one most recently, for their struggles to break into and survive in the male-dominated world of law enforcement. One is Nasriya who recently resigned from her position as a secondary constable in the Coimbatore district after facing persistent harassment and discrimination, while the other, Prithika, had fought a long legal battle 5 years ago to become the first transwoman to be appointed as a police officer in India in 2017. Their stories shed light on the systemic barriers and discrimination faced by transgender individuals, and the urgent need for greater inclusivity and diversity in the country's police force.

Pressed to the verge of suicide: Constable Nasriya

R. Nasriya, a Dalit transgender individual, who held the position of secondary constable in the Coimbatore district, has created a stir by submitting a letter of resignation to the Commissioner of Police. The implications of such an act have caused a great deal of speculation and discourse amongst the public and media alike.

Speaking to the press, Nasriya revealed, "My arduous journey as a member of the police force commenced in 2018 when I began my tenure in Ramanathapuram district. Unfortunately, I was driven to the brink of despair, grappling with sexual problems that had a profound impact on my mental wellbeing. Nonetheless, I persevered, and in 2020, I was appointed to the Coimbatore Police Department. Alas, I was confronted with a similar set of issues - harassment and discrimination - with unfailing regularity." The 27-year old cop had tried to kill herself on camera, within few months of joining the service , which she had attained after a long legal battle. Nasriya's video drinking rat poison had gone viral on the social media in December 2018.

Derogatory comments on gender & caste

Nasriya elaborated on the incident that triggered her resignation, stating, "During my recent stint with the Child and Women Protection Division, the inspector in charge, Meenambikai, made derogatory comments about my gender and caste. I immediately took this matter to the Coimbatore District Commissioner, who reprimanded Inspector Meenambikai. However, my struggles only worsened as my workload increased, which further exacerbated my psychological trauma."

Drawing a line in the sand, Nasriya made it clear that she could not continue working in such an environment, stating, "I joined the police force with the intention of becoming a role model for others, but these persistent issues have left me with no choice but to resign from my position."

The Coimbatore District Police Commissioner Balakrishnan commented on the situation, stating, "I have advised Nasriya to submit a written complaint. Rest assured that necessary action has already been taken, albeit informally. The matter will be thoroughly investigated by Northern Deputy Commissioner of Police, Santhish. A decision on accepting Nasriya's resignation letter will be made in due course."

First Transwoman police officer in India: K.Prithika

K. Prithika Yashini made history by becoming the first transgender woman to be appointed as a police officer in India in 2017. Hailing from Salem, Tamil Nadu, Prithika had a challenging upbringing, where her parents took her to various religious figures and doctors in a bid to "correct" her perceived differences. While in ninth grade, Prithika began to feel a disconnect from her assigned gender and did not feel like a boy.

After completing her undergraduate degree in computer applications, Prithika moved to Chennai in 2011, where she found acceptance and support within the city's transgender community. Her dream was to become a sub-inspector of police in Tamil Nadu, and she applied for recruitment to the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) for 1087 vacancies. However, her application was rejected on the grounds that she did not belong to either of the two specified categories: male or female.

Undeterred, Prithika challenged TNUSRB's decision in various courts, including the High Court of Madras. The court ordered TNUSRB to conduct a written test for Prithika, which she successfully cleared with the help of legal recourse. Prithika also managed to lower the minimum cut-off marks for the written test from 28.5 to 25.00.

Despite missing the 100-meter dash by one second, Prithika successfully passed all physical endurance tests, paving the way for her appointment as a sub-inspector of police. In November 2015, the Madras High Court passed a judgement directing TNUSRB to appoint Prithika as a sub-inspector of police and include transgender people as a "third category" alongside the usual "male" and "female" categories.

In April 2017, Prithika received her appointment letter from Chennai City Police Commissioner Smith Saran, and on April 2, 2017, she took charge as a sub-inspector in Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu, where she currently serves in the law and order wing. Prithika's appointment as a police officer marked a historic moment for India's transgender community and a significant step towards greater inclusivity and diversity within the country's police force.

LGBTIQA + community in India

After prolonged struggles, including various movements and demonstrations across the globe, several nations, such as India, have officially recognized the third sex and homosexuals as equal citizens.

In 2017, the United States Supreme Court granted members of the LGBTQ community the right to openly declare their sexual orientation without fear of reprisal. The right to privacy extends protection to an individual's sexual orientation.

On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India overturned a portion of Section 377 of the Criminal Code, which criminalized gay acts of consenting intimacy.

In 2019, the Indian Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act into law to safeguard the rights, welfare, and other concerns of transgender individuals.

India's transgender community comprises over 4.9 lakh individuals, yet they are often subjected to pervasive prejudice and animosity, which has resulted in their marginalization at the fringes of society. Nonetheless, the nation has taken incremental but resolute strides towards ameliorating their plight in recent years.

Notably, several transgender individuals have ascended to the position of mayor, although only one was able to serve due to legal complications.

Son of former CJI BN Kirpal, and a senior lawyer Saurabh Kirpal, whose nomination as a judge has been contested by the government on account of his sexual orientation, had observed that the judiciary is presently dominated by individuals who belong to the upper echelons of caste, adhere to heteronormative standards, and possess certain predispositions.

In 2015, Professor Manabi Bandopadhyay became the first transgender principal to be appointed in India, and even the esteemed Supreme Court has conferred official recognition upon them as a distinct 'third gender.'

Padma Lakshmi, recently was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Kerala, making her the first transgender person to don the black robes in the State.

Jane Kaushik, a Delhi- based transgender rights activist, is leading a movement and pressing for the Horizontal Reservation For Transgender Persons.