The Madras High Court has recently directed the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to implement the draft module prepared by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) on “integrating transgender concerns into school processes.”
In an order passed on September 18, Justice N Anand Venkatesh noted that the NCERT’s draft module had been submitted to the Ministry two years ago, but no response had been received. The judge highlighted the significant effort involved in developing the module, which aims to address transgender issues in education. The module was intended to be implemented in the current academic year, but with the year already underway, the Ministry has yet to act on the proposal.
The Court urged the Ministry to show greater sensitivity to the issue and prioritize the implementation of the module, setting a deadline for it to be operational in schools by January 6, 2025. Justice Venkatesh emphasized the importance of this step and scheduled the next hearing on that date.
This directive was issued in a case that originated from a plea by a lesbian couple seeking protection from their relatives. Over time, the Court has used the case to advance the welfare of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
