ASSAM: GUWAHATI TO GET FIRST TRANSGENDER JUDGE

13 July 2018:

“When there’s a will, there’s is a way”.

Swati Bidhan Barua, who had moved the Gauhati High Court seeking to undergo a sex change, will now be Assam’s first transgender judge. She will mediate cases in a national Lok Adalat in Guwahati on Saturday.

According to reports, Baruah, who is a leader of the All Assam Transgenders’ Association, will act as the mediator in pre-litigation cases related to finance companies.

The appointment of the activist was made by the Kamrup (metro) district legal service authority. She is among 20 judges who will mediate cases in a Lok Adalat.

As per reports, the Lok Adalat will be held on the premises of the Kamrup (Metro) district and sessions judge on Saturday. The Bench will be presided over by H Ali Hazarika, a retired district and sessions judge, and it will dispose of cases pending in the family courts, motor accidents claims tribunals, labour courts among others.

Her appointment as a member judge in the Lok Adalat came as a ray of hope for all those who are facing discrimination and struggling for an identity.

After Baruah had filed a PIL in the Gauhati High Court in 2017 seeking its intervention for a state policy for transgenders, the Assam government informed the court that a committee would study the problems being faced by the community in the state and formulate a policy for its welfare.

“Transgenders are still taunted and abused in public places. I hope my appointment will make people realise that the transgenders are not untouchable,” said Baruah.